What we talk about, when we talk about Russia?
It’s not easy these days, let’s make that clear first.
Many people have been forced to wrongly associate the history, tradition, culture of a complex yet unbelievable country with the current state of politic or a powerful, controversial figure as Vladimir Putin.
That’s unfortunate.
I feel that, as a person who was lucky enough to traverse its vastness, diversity, richness.
Russia is the largest country in the world with a total area of 17,098,242 Km² (6,601,665 mi²) and a land area of 16,376,870 Km² (6,323,142 mi²). [1]
When we talk about Russia, we talk about an enormous body that contains different animas, religions, even continents.
Let’s focus on the western part of this multilayered tradition.
We are talking about the area that ranges from Saint Petersburg to Moscow, which takes only a tiny portion of the whole body.
It is worth to pinpoint another impressive fact at this point:
There are eleven time zones in Russia, which currently observe times ranging from UTC+02:00 to UTC+12:00. [2]
Probably, most people that live in the two biggest Russian cities, see themselves as westerners.
Or at least I had this impression when I visited back in 2019.
Things have changed since then, as Ukraine invasion by Russia has had a huge impact on that perception, I believe.
The West, which basically means USA and Europe, has moved with all its means to alienate Russia.
They succeeded, at least on a cultural level, as everything that is associated with Russia is perceived with a bias these days.
Social media, which are breeding one conformist after another, have only amplified this strategy.
History, literature, architecture, beauty, should have no flag.
That’s my belief.
But, when you talk about Russia, people tend to get cold, to turn their heads.
That’s a pity, I repeat.
While Saint Petersburg remains the cultural capital of the country, because of its undisputed beauty and sophistication, Moscow is the political and economical centre.
Most of the country wealth is concentrated here, in that tiny strip that face Northern Europe.
Capitalism, in the Russian translation, means gas, oligarchs.
After the Soviet Union collapse in 1991, the oligarchs, favored by a ruling class of inept (you remember Boris Yeltsin right?), have feasted on the country’s great mining heritage.
Putin’s rise was facilitated by some of them, who probably underestimated the man, thinking they could keep manoeuvring the Russia’s president like a puppet.
Well, it didn’t go that way.
Putin has gone out of his way to make it easier for those who never opposed him, taking out whoever tried to challenge him.
The rest is history.
In this part of Russia, wealth is often exhibited, as a symbol of power and masculinity.
It is a post-Soviet tradition that has roots in the empire period, I suppose.
Russia has always seen herself as a powerful imperial state.
This is something that goes beyond the personality of an individual leader.
It is an historical attribute.
Then there is the religious matter at the heart of any intricate dynamic concerning this country.
When we talk about western Russia, we talk about a Cristhian orthodox tradition, whose incredible legacy is on display at every corner of cities such as St. Petersburg and Moscow.
On the other side, there’s revolution and the looming presence of Lenin, with whom any Russian leader must contend.
Putin has successfully navigated these two worlds without explicitly favoring either of them.
I have got the sense that on this side of Russia, no one wants to be a communist anymore.
But at the time, the revolution started far away, finally reaching Moscow.
And there’s also the journey to be taken through the social ranks.
I don’t think it surprises anyone that there may be communist nostalgics among those who are having a hard time.
And they are not a small number in Russia.
When I was visited Saint Petersburg or Moscow, I had the feeling that you get in any big western city, though.
People seemed to enjoy comfort and have a desire to live a free, happy life.
Isn’t that what we all ultimately want?
In my next article, I will talk about the days I spent in Moscow, the capital, the holy city, the centre of any historical and political intrigue.
Stay tuned fellas.
The Late Bloomer 