Word: vasili
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...understanding of the Russian character must inevitably begin with the land, which covers roughly one-sixth of the globe. Historian Vasili Klyuchevsky speculated that the vast sweep of Russia's steppes and forests induced "a ghastly feeling of imperturbable calm and deep sleep, of loneliness conducive to abstract, sad musing without any clearly defined thought." Russians seem so overwhelmed by the sheer enormousness of their country that they would rather settle down by a warm stove, break out a bottle of vodka and muse about life than go out and plow a furrow toward the endlessly receding horizon. A leading...
...nervous and half apologetic. They gave a preposterous excuse for assuming authority (Gorbachev was too tired and ill to retain command); stressed that the coup was a constitutional devolution of authority to Yanayev, although it clearly was not; and proclaimed a highly dubious devotion to continued reform. Junta member Vasili Starodubtsev sniffled continually, and Yanayev seemed twitchy. As Gorbachev later commented, "They said I was sick, but they were the ones whose hands were shaking...
...attended the revolution. Last Tuesday two Civic Forum representatives delivered a letter to the Soviet embassy asking the Supreme Soviet to disavow the 1968 invasion. The two were assured the letter would be telexed to Moscow promptly. "We are very happy with the way events are going," embassy counselor Vasili Filipov told them. "Especially that there is no bloodshed, because we feared bloodshed." How times have changed...
...democracies are accustomed to having their appointments challenged in the legislative branch, but the experience was a shock for Soviet Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzhkov. The country's new 542-member Supreme Soviet rejected six of Ryzhkov's 69 nominees to ministerial-level jobs. The - casualties included Culture Minister Vasili Zakharov and Vladimir Gribov, designated head of the central bank...
...change in attitude is much needed. Soviet doctors estimate that as much as 50% of the population is seriously overweight. Says Dr. Vasili Vorobyev, chairman of a year-old private fitness clinic in Moscow that serves 600 clients a day: "More Soviet people die from the medical problems associated with being overweight than from any other cause." Now, explains Arkhangelskaya, "our people have a new interest in losing weight, and health centers like this one are growing." Doctors at the fitness center, one of six state-run clinics in Moscow, see 80 to 100 customers a day. Cost...