2 February 2014. A Photo Essay. It’s Wintertime in Russia

It’s COLD in Norilsk (Krasnoyarsk Krai. Siberian Federal District) in the Far North… -46 (-50.8 Fahrenheit ) to be exact. She IS wearing her woolies, to be sure…

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Local “walruses” jump into the Yenisei River at a temperature of around -30 (-22 Fahrenheit) in Divnogorsk (Krasnoyarsk Krai. Siberian Federal District), south of Krasnoyarsk in Siberia

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Motocross in Moscow Oblast (Central Federal District)

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A child gives flowers to a war veteran during a parade on the 70th anniversary of Leningrad’s liberation from the fascist blockade on Nepokoryonnykh Prospekt (“Avenue of the Unconquered”… the Piskarovskoye Memorial Cemetery is on this street) in St Petersburg (Federal City of St Petersburg. Northwestern Federal District)

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Swans in the harbour in Baltiisk in Kaliningrad Oblast (Northwestern Federal District)

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A fisherman walks on the frozen Yenisei River in the village of Taiga (Kozulka Raion) at -20 (-4 Fahrenheit ), outside Krasnoyarsk

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A boy slides down a snow-covered hill in Tobolsk (Tyumen Oblast. Ural Federal District) in Siberia

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A cruise ship sails on Lake Baikal by the village of Listvyanka (Irkutsk Oblast. Siberian Federal District)

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The Kolyada rite in the village of Reshma (Kineshma Raion. Ivanovo Oblast. Central Federal District, 318 kilometres (197 miles) from Moscow)

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You think that YOU have it bad? Not only is it COLDER in Russia… everybody’s out and about! Pull out those valenki and pull on your ushanka and go join ’em! It’s wintertime in Russia! Pass the jug and have some fun…

BMD

A Multimedia Presentation. VOR Presents… The Foremost Russian Minstrel Celebrates His Birthday

Famous singer, composer, and People’s Artist of Russia Oleg Gazmanov celebrated his 60th birthday on 22 July.

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Oleg Mikhailovich was born in Gusev in Kaliningrad Oblast. He graduated from the Kaliningrad Higher Sea Engineering School, but he chose to follow a musical career. After graduating from music school, specialising in guitar, he began his creative activity.

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In 1989, Gazmanov created the group Эскадрон (Eskadron: Squadron), which is his backup band. Most of Oleg Mikhailovich’s songs are patriotic; many of his songs are dedicated to the soldiers who defend the Motherland. Some of his hits were Есаул (Yesaul), Господа офицеры (Gospoda Ofitsery: Gentlemen Officers), and Эскадрон (Eskadron: Squadron).

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Gazmanov is a Candidate Master of Sport in gymnastics.

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Oleg Mikhailovich stays in tip-top physical shape, which allows him to carry on during long concerts, where he’s often in constant movement.

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At one time, Oleg Mikhailovich’s son Rodion took part in his father’s concerts, he had a legion of female fans, but he chose to follow a more serious profession, so, Rodion Olegovich graduated from the Finance Academy.

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His song Москва (Moscow) became the unofficial anthem of the capital, and, recently, Gazmanov was chosen to create an anthem for Sochi.

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Oleg Mikhailovich performing at a concert dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the arts centre at the State Kremlin Palace.

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Oleg Mikhailovich and his wife Marina, with their daughter Marianna.

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Gazmanov understands that he has to keep moving forward, no matter what. That’s what we wish for him, too!

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22 July 2011

Voice of Russia World Service

http://rus.ruvr.ru/photoalbum/53573257/53573260/index.html