Useful article from Washington Times - Russian Ukrainian Belarus Travel Music Woman Dating News

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Useful article from Washington Times
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Posted by: Seaview

Don't know, where to start this thread but looks like it's about avoiding scam.

This rather unbiased article from WT gives an idea of the current economic situation in Russia and might help some of you in understanding real financial situation of your potential Russian gf.

http://www.washtimes.com/world/2007...10550-1312r.htm

Disclaimer. It's about Moscow only. The situation somewhere in Samara or Sothern Russia is very very different, unfortunately.

Posted by: Chrismc

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaview

Don't know, where to start this thread but looks like it's about avoiding scam.

Very interesting Seaview....looks like Moscow is the place to set up a new business in the next year or so.

Posted by: vox11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaview

Don't know, where to start this thread but looks like it's about avoiding scam.

Some weird logic there...

"Shopping in Mega Mall's enormous grocery store with her granddaughter, Svetlana, 48, laughed off suggestions of a return of Soviet-style dictatorship in Russia".

Dictatorship is not a lack of fodder supply. If in 70s, when oil prices were as high as now, most of export revenues were used to support army and military industry, but not to supply retail shopping malls for Moscow clerks, it can't be used to determine presence of dictatorship.

Quote:

"It can never go back to the way it was."

So long-term memory is limited to 7-9 years - in 1998 (some) people forgot 1991, in 2007 they forgot 1998.

Quote:

But few Russians see Mr. Putin as anti-democratic, and most support his attempts to consolidate more power in the Kremlin. In a poll released by the Pew Research Center last year, 81 percent of Russians said a strong economy is more important than a good democracy.

A good master that always keep feeding rack full is better that lack of master. Wel said. But when feed is gone ( for some reason, eg falled oil prices ), livestock itself becomes feed for master.

Posted by: ira156

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaview

Don't know, where to start this thread but looks like it's about avoiding scam.

Hey Seaview. My Nat is in Moscow and has a good job ...wages aboove the standard. But she definately cant afford to buy Dulcci and Gabbanna or a new car ect. She doesnt have to line up for food as in the past...can go to the theatre every once in a while and travels overseas once a year. And she hasnt forgot what the old times were like.

What it does show is that Russians now can enjoy many of the things we in the west consider basic.....having fresh food...a place to live...the occational treat.

Small steps ...and its great to see. But yes seaview outside Moscow and ST petes things are much harder. Lets hope these small steps reach the rest of russia.

Posted by: Seaview

Quote:

Hey. When I remember 90s I think of those times as a nightmare. I am really happy Russia has recovered so fast. As for Dolce&Gabbana it's often a matter of choice and environment. I am absolutely indifferent to designers brands but have to buy at least good hand-bags and shoes because all my colleagues are fashion crazy and I cannot look worse

Quote:

What it does show is that Russians now can enjoy many of the things we in the west consider basic.....having fresh food...a place to live...the occational treat.

I think fresh food is more common in Russia than in the west.

We just don't have such a wide choice of ready made meals in supermarkets and people buy meat, vegetables and cook their food instead of heating it. In the UK it's possible to live without cooking at all. Everything is washed, sliced, preserved and ready to eat.

Quote:

Small steps ...and its great to see. But yes seaview outside Moscow and ST petes things are much harder.

I hope everything will be fine. Even in provincial towns people live much better now, thank God

Posted by: livinginukraine

i live in Ukraine, and agree with this article. in the cities living standards have gone up a lot in the last few years. the pace of change is enormous.
in the coutryside though it is still very poor