Russia 1992: Moscow Prior to 1992, the World Knew Russia As the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Russia/Soviet Union)
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Russia 1992: Moscow Prior to 1992, the world knew Russia as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Russia/Soviet Union). The U.S.S.R. as a socialist state in Eurasia lasted from December 30, 1922 to December 26, 1991. Its government and economy were run by a centralized government in Moscow, which continues to be the capital of Russia. In 1992, I had the opportunity to visit a recently politically changed country through a U.S. Citizen Ambassador Program known as People to People. The program was started in 1956 by then U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower. He wanted to create a cultural exchange program to foster more understanding and sharing among countries of the world. Initially the program was sponsored by the federal government in the U.S. Information Agency. Eisenhower however felt that it should be a citizen‐based organization. In 1961, a nonprofit travel program began called People to People with student and adult travel programs. I was invited to attend the “Nuclear Fuels Management Delegation to the Commonwealth of Independent States.” In 1992, I was the Executive Secretary of a low‐level radioactive waste trade association, through a contract for services with the Pennsylvania State University, Nuclear Engineering Department. The association called ACURI was sponsored by users of radioactive materials from the states of Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia in an Appalachian States Compact. I was granted approval for professional leave from Penn State with a stipulation that expenditures would be covered by personal funds. Twenty‐eight people throughout the United States from various scientific backgrounds visited Russia, June 13‐27, 1992. Our itinerary included: Moscow, Zagorsk, Chelyabinsk and Chelyabinsk‐65 (Lower Siberia), Kiev (Ukraine), Pripyat, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station and Slavutich (Ukraine). This photo program, Russia 1992 Moscow (Mockba), is a pictorial of scenes of the city of Moscow, including the Cosmos, Moscow’s largest hotel, meetings at the Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Atomic Energy and the Nuclear Industry, Sciences and Technology Commission of the Moscow City Council. It also includes photos from L.V. Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy and a site visit to low‐level radioactive waste near Moscow. There are many statues of Lenin and scenes of the Muscovites throughout the city and surrounding area transportation systems. Finally, a visit to the Kremlin, the Tomb Lenin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square and the department store facing Red Square called Gum. Moscow was a city in crisis in 1992; we saw people protesting to return to the old system. The Ruble to the US Dollar in 1992 was 107 to 1. I read an article in an English printed newspaper that said that young men wanted to be taxi cab drivers due to the money exchange. The Cosmos is the hotel where we stayed. It was touted as the largest hotel in the world. It has security at the door, gambling in the lobby and an opportunity to request a “lady of the night” if you asked for one. The interesting thing was that on each floor there was a lady who was posted 24/7. We thought the person was for safety reasons, however, one of our delegation of 24 in his single room was robbed during the night. Another interesting point was the hotel staff as far as waiters were unfamiliar with the word “service”; they fed us on their time or schedule. The main boulevards of Moscow were wide and included trolley service. One interesting point was mentioned that most people did not keep windshield wipers on cars because there was a shortage and they did not wish them to be stolen. Pepsi and Marlboro were products sold in Moscow. Bottled water in a store cost $3.00, at the hotel 11 cents. Doctors/engineers made on average 30,000 Rubles per month. Rent was subsidized for most people, but the new economic structure had caused prices to rise sharply. In the background is the Ostankino TV/radio tower, 1172 feet high, and the Russian monument to “Conquerors of Space.” The hotel was opened in 1979 with nearly 1800 rooms, 25 floors. The hotel was built to support the 1980 Olympic Games. The name Red Square comes from the Russian word which means “beautiful area.” The mausoleum in the square originally interred both Lenin and Stalin. Vladimir Lenin died in 1924. His body has been in the mausoleum, except during wartime, when his body was moved for protection. Joseph Stalin after his death in 1953 was also entombed in the mausoleum. Stalin was removed in 1961 and buried inside the Kremlin wall. His body was moved after a period of “de‐ Stalinization,” surrounding many revealed atrocities committed during his leadership. Lenin’s removal was also slated, but a strong majority of visitors to the mausoleum desired his body remain in place in 2011. Within the Red Square, St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Gum Department store are two other attractions. The Kremlin is Russia’s citadel. It included five palaces, four cathedrals with a wall with several towers. Kremlin means “fortress inside a city.” The site goes back to Finno‐Ugric peoples in the 2nd century BC. The walled structure was noted in 11th century AD. The tsars (czars) are responsible for the palaces. St. Basil’s Cathedral was constructed during the reign of Ivan the Terrible (feared). Shown below are Tsar Cannon and Tsar Bell. Russian circus acts were fun. The acts were both adult and child‐like. However, a bear was in the hallways and the demonstration would have had animal activists objecting to its use. People sat next to the bear and were photographed. Aeroflot airlines, which provided transportation within Russia, was very disappointing. From Moscow to Chelyabinsk (934 miles‐two time zones), the plane was as big as a 747 but could not fly above 5,000 feet due to poor seals on the plane doors. We could see light coming from the doors. The stewardess provided us with what looked like Kool‐Aid from a bucket and a common cup. When the Soviet Union was established in 1922 after the civil war, the Bolsheviks wanted to eliminate religion. The Russian Orthodox Church, which was an integral part of the autocratic state during the Russian Empire, came under attack by propagating atheism in schools and the media under the new Communist regime. People could worship, but public display was prohibited. Vladimir Lenin said, “religion was the opium of the people,” under his Marxist ideology. Churches were either expropriated or destroyed, many priests were either persecuted or killed. Changes in Russia have allowed religion to be rekindled. Below the religious pictures are some photos of people in parks on the street and at a wedding. See Zagorsk 1992, to see the headquarters of the Russian Orthodox Church at the Zagorsk Monastery. St. Basil’s is the most famous of the Red Square attractions. Erected by the first Tsar of Russia, Ivan Vasilyevich, AKA “Ivan the Terrible” in 1554‐‐completed in 1561, its history has several titles: “The Catherdral of the Intercession of the Virgin by the Moat,” “Prkrovsky Cathedral,” aand St. Basil Cathedral. The name St. Basil came from a commoner named Basil who was known for his miracle works. At his death in 1557, the name St. Basil stuck. In 1990, it became a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Sources: Personal tour of Russia in 1992, Interview notes, presented papers and reports, “Nuclear Fuels Management Delegation to the Commonwealth of Independent States” schedule of activities. acuri.net John R. Vincenti Russia 1992: Moscow .