Moscow’s Threat to Cut Subsidies to Chechnya Would Never have Happened if Putin were Still Alive, Some Russians Say

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Nov. 27 – Moscow media are reporting that the Russian government says it will end subsidies to Chechnya and some other non-Russian republics if their leaders don’t bring their budgets into balance. This threat to cut subsidies to Chechnya would never have happened if Putin were still alive, some Russians are saying.

            This is just one of the anecdotes that Moscow journalist Tatyana Pushkaryova has assembled in latest collection (publizist.ru/blogs/107374/47238/-). Among the best of the rest are the following:

·       “Welcome to the Russian Civil Society Support Committee! Take a chair.” “But I don’t see a chair.” “Do you see any civil society either? When there is, then you’ll see the chair.”

·       Russian national culture is summed up in a single phrase: “Well then, just in case, we’ll drink.”

·       May couples love one another as selflessly as Mikhalkov loves money and Putin loves lies.

·       For most of Russia, emigration means moving to Moscow.

·       Artificial intelligence is a real threat to people because it cannot lie. If it could lie, they would be even more threatened.

·       Many say the greatest misfortune of people is they live too long. But Putin has solved that problem.

·       Russians are delighted that Moscow won’t export gas to Europe. That means there is a chance that Russians will finally get some.