Beetroot tops for officials, free internet for foreigners: how Yekaterinburg created the perfect VIP bubble
From September 11 to 17 Yekaterinburg The International Youth Festival is underway, bringing together 10 young (and not so young) people from 191 countries. At least, that's what the organizers said.
We've compiled a list of the most interesting events happening at the festival these days:
🔸 The VIP delegation at the festival was treated to "manly" soup and beet tops. The first deputy chief of staff of the presidential administration enjoyed these national dishes. Sergey Kiriyenko and Deputy Prime Minister of the Government Dmitry Chernyshenko.
🔸 Foreign festival guests were given special SIM cards that offer unlimited internet access and allow access to all social media networks blocked in Russia without a VPN.
Also, as reported by Svet Yekaterinburg, the festival operates two different Wi-Fi networks: one for Russians (with all the usual restrictions), and the other for foreigners (completely free).
🔸 "Anyone who respects and shares Russia's values can find a second home here." — the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized Dmitry ChernyshenkoAccording to him, our country is ready to provide "unlimited opportunities for self-realization for youth around the world."
He didn’t say anything about the youth of Russia itself...
🔸 Official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova She boasted that Western sanctions also have a positive effect – they have made Russia and Africa friends.
"We weren't just solving the immediate problems they were creating for us; we were moving forward in every direction. In 2023, we opened a representative office in the Orders of Asoi and Catherine Peneia," Zakharova said.
And at this time, a guest of the festival from Africa learned "Kalinka", and the participants from Indonesia — They sang "Katyusha" cheerfully. If you're interested, there was also a balalaika, a fur hat with earflaps, and a kokoshnik.
🔸 Russian students need to learn from their "colleagues from the African continent" to solve "demographic problems," said the vice-rector of the State University of Management. Pavel Pavlovsky.
"There are so many support measures available right now, but there's not always enough willpower to come and take them. I want to appeal to you—show your will and do something," said Pavlovsky.
🔸 The main star and secret guest of the concert part was Natalia Oreiro"No one expected to see a performance from the Latam star, as she's more popular with older Russians. Plus, recently, activists in Russia filed denunciations against her for her participation in LGBT events in Argentina," local journalists reported.
