Moscow’s Foreign Policy Always Promotes Domestic Tourism while Its Domestic Policy Promotes Foreign Travel

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Nov. 22 – Russia is a remarkable country in many ways: all of its foreign policies contribute to the growth of domestic tourism while all of its domestic policies have the effect of promoting tourism abroad, according to the latest anecdote Russians are telling each other.

            This is just one of the stories Moscow journalist Tatyana Pushkaryova has assembled in her latest online collection (publizist.ru/blogs/107374/47196/-). Among the best of the rest are the following:

·       The son of Ramzan Kadyrov has set up a new rock band which is called Medalika.

·       Russia still lags behind North Korea: only 80 percent of Russians say they are happy with their leader, while 100 percent of North Koreans do.

·       The declining exchange rate of the dollar won’t lead to a decline in prices in the stores. It is only a sign that elections are just around the corner.

·       The Kremlin has announced a lucrative new deal with China: Moscow will build a gas pipeline and pay for gas supplies going to China.

·       The subdued response to Tuleyev’s death who was once “the all” of the Kuzbass is a reminder to all dictators of what awaits them after their deaths.

·       All heterosexual sex without the goal of conception should be reported and subject to compulsory labor service.