moscow expat life - issue 9 - winter 2014/15

WINTER 2014/15

www.Moscowexpatlife.ru

Restaura

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Listin

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Moscow Good Food Club at the Forte and Scandinavia

The Italian Community

Dr Frank Schauff (AEB)

Fit Out and Expats

The Chocolate Museum

Dancing in Moscow

Baku

The ItalianCommunity in Moscow

ITALIAN

EXPAT WINTER GOLF CHALLENGE

Recognised for achieving excellence

Due to unprecedented demand, The International School of Moscow continues to grow and expand. In September 2016, our fi rst cohort of students will enter universities of their choice around the world, having completed their Secondary education with us. As reported by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, we have been recognised for achieving excellence in all aspects of school life. We are pleased to off er high-quality, British-style education on our sites at both Krylatskoe and Rosinka. We strive to attain the highest standards in everything that we do.

The International School of Moscow

THE INTE

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DOCENDO DISCIMUS

WORLD CLASS EDUCATION AS A DOORWAY TO THE FUTURE

For More Information: www.internationalschool.ru+7 (499) 922 44 00 [email protected]

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WIN

TER 2014/15

COVER WINTER 2014_СС.indd 2-3 26.11.14 15:34

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Index

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Community3. Social Movers

4-5, 8-11. News and Announcements6. IWC News

12. Getting a British Passport Renewed14. St. Andrew’s Fete

16. BBC Boat Trip18. MPC Ball

20. Moscow expat Life Golf Night22. Moscow on 1,000 roubles a Week

Italian Community24. Letter from the Italian Ambassador Cesare Maria Ragaglini

25. Maurizio Forte26. Marisa Florio

27. Domenico Giordano30. Ernesto Ferlenghi31. Costante Marengo32. Mariolina Mariotti

33. Giovanni Stornante34. Nikita

Features36. Malaysian Ambassador Dato’ Zainol Abidin Omar

38. Dance Classes in Moscow40. To Children With Love Charity

43. Big Change Charity44. The Chocolate Museum

46. Look Stylish (Fashion)48. Moscow Youth Soccer League

Real Estate52. Mark Smith54. Tim Millard

55. Real Estate News56. The Moscow Construction and Fit Out Awards

Business60. The HR Business in Russia

72. Dr Schauff, CEO of the AEB74. Chris Weafer

Education66. Children Of The World

67. ISM School Flag Project68. ISM Music Marathon70. Realise Your Potential

Travel76. Hotel Rodniki

Moscow Good Food Club78. The Scandinavia80. The Orange Tree

82-88. Bars, cafes and restaurants

89-96. Community Services and Essential Services



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Editor’s Letter

nother year comes to an end, and what a year it has been! Whilst

many wonderful things have happened, other events have and are taken place, which leads one to hope that next year will be… better. For those of us who actually live in Moscow, perhaps as never before, there is the need to be able to come together and

share our experiences. To do this we need information, and this is exactly what Moscow expat Life has set out to do.

This issue we bring you news of institutions as diverse as a chocolate museum in Moscow, written by the talented Helen Borodina, on dance clubs in Moscow, written by somebody who just can’t put his dancing shoes away: Brian McCormack. We bring you news of where to play golf in the winter, and print, as always, a whole series of photo reports on social occasions such as the memorable BBC summer Moscow river boat trip. Never before has so much alcohol been drunk by so many Brits and their friends on one evening in the middle of the river Moskva. How about that for the Guinness Book of Records!

There are about 3,000 Italians living in Moscow, and Italy is a major trading partner with Russia, with trade ticking up €31 billion last year. In this issue, we feature a special 11-page section on the Italian community living in Russia, with interviews from community leaders, and an introduction from His Excellency Cesare Maria Ragaglini. Viva l’Italia a Mosca. We also print an interview with the Malaysian Ambassador to Moscow, Dato’ Zainol Abidin Omar, and will continue to expand the global perspective of our coverage, as we do indeed live not only in a multipolar world, but a multicultural expat community.

On the business side, we venture further into the world of real estate, with an article on fit out, not to be confused with keeping fit. Mark Smith tells us why this industry remains such a bastion of expats, who have been dominating the field since the fall of the Berlin wall (25 years ago this year!). This is followed up by coverage of the first Moscow Construction and Fit-Out Association (MCFO) Awards. In this issue we are starting a new section on real estate news with contributions from JLL. News from other agencies and companies is welcome (please write to: [email protected]). Also in the business section, Chris Weafer provides some salutary information on Russia from an investment point of view, which he reduces down to advice for us all to buy thicker winter coats. Good advice, as this winter is predicted to be particularly long and cold.

Happy Christmas and New Year from all of us at Moscow expat Life

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Business Insights

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t feels great to be able to contribute to Moscow expat Life magazine! I feel very special being able to share the news about our

community events in this wonderful magazine. This time, I feel inspired by my colleague, Chris Helmbrecht, to write in a more relaxed style. ;)

Let’s start with dramatic changes. Firstly, I no longer host any parties at Petrovich club. Time to move on from this bar! We are still meeting regularly at Makoto bar and restaurant in Moscow City, but now, instead of Thursday night, we meet on Fridays. Have you tried Japanese Whisky?

Our excursions are still taking place each Saturday and practically every weekend. We do our regular trips to John Kopiski’s farm, Vladimir, Yaroslavl, Kazan, Archangelsk, Murmansk and, even to Irkutsk.

One more regular activity is golf. Every Wednesday, we play golf, together with Kim and the team. If you like theatre and cinema, please contact me for short courses, which I organise together with Moscow English Theatre (MET). For charity we now work with Ask Sophie

website resource to keep everyone posted about our charity events. Great news, I have a team now, two more people working with me on organising events. I am very happy, as I am changing a little bit the nature of my events. I would like them to be even more creative! Now, with a historical twist. For example, together with my team, we are launching a fantastic annual event, with a code name BNB. I will let you know the details in the next issue of the magazine! In summary, I hope you will find inspiration and time to be creative! It’s important! Please join my Grey Rabbits expat club on Facebook to receive more information about our regular events. And, by all means, JOIN THEM. Have a great time in Moscow, together with Moscow expat Life magazine.

Maria Ushakova

Chris Helmbrecht

Community. Social Movers


he dark and wet end of the year is strangely enough the best party season. The summer is surely nicer, but the last quarter of the year

is the busiest. Many new venues are opening and one special event follows the next. There are almost too many!

The most exclusive pre-party weekend events are, for sure, at ‘Siberia’. But, be aware, it is hard to get in. The ‘SOHO Rooms’ facecontrol guy manages the door and it’s hard, especially for foreigners, who he doesn’t seem to like. I mean please, what is wrong with Moscow? ‘Facecontrol’ for people, who want to spend a good amount of money for dinner in a restaurant? Give me a break!

Meanwhile ‘SOHO Rooms’ has empty seats in its restaurant and on its terrace during the pre-party, but it’s getting busy after midnight and it’s still one of the most exclusive venues in town.

Moscow’s beloved ‘Gipsy’ just closed for reconstruction. Rumor is, that the owner gave his sponsor a bleeding nose and after that, financial support dries up. What do they say: ‘Don’t bite the hand, that feeds you?’ Probably Gipsy will not reopen, unless the owner finds another sponsor. The newly opened ‘Extra Lounge’ on the roof

of the Korston Hotel, one of the last late-soviet styled hotels, promises to become a hit, despite its location. Its makers created the legendary ‘We are family’ venue. It has the best view over Moscow, even better than any Moscow City skyscraper location. This club may become the new Moscow top venue and its worth a visit.

’Jagger’ winter-proofed its terrace for the winter and is probably the right place to go to if you are looking for a full on party with lots of crazy people. ‘Mendeleev’ is still the city’s best bar and offers great cocktails and the best of electronic music for a sophisticated audience. The place simply has class! For a Thursday party, ‘Oblaka’ is your venue, its glam and sexy, from midnight until 5am. ‘Artel Bessonnitza’ has the best of tech-deep-house on Friday and Saturday from 1:30-4:00am. After that ‘Krysha Mira’ is the top spot. If you can’t make it into ‘Krysha’, try ‘Garage Club’, which is more open, and also in my top list of after-hour venues in Moscow.

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Moscow expat Life occasionally uses material we believe has been placed in the public domain. Sometimes it is not possible to identify and contact the copyright owner. If you claim ownership of something we have published, we will be pleased to make a proper acknowledgement.

Publisher: Kim Waddoup, [email protected]

Editor: John Harrison, [email protected]

Business Development Manager:Anastasia Sukhova, [email protected]

Designer: Julia Nozdracheva, [email protected]

Researchers: Anastasia SoldatovaAleksandra MarkovaAlena KizimovaNatalia Alexandrovna

Administration: Alina KurpasLiliya Islamova

Contributors:Chris WeaferOlga SamsonovaSophia TupulevLucy KenyonBrian JohnsonTim MillardRoss HunterHelen BorodinaClaudia BianconiCostante MarengoDomenico GiordanoErnesto FerienghiMariolina MariottiMarisa FlorioMaurizio ForteRia van DijkChris HelmbrechtMaria UshakovaDominique Waddoup, Judy Maurer, Sandra Slotboom

Editorial Address:3rd Frunzenskaya 5,Bldg 1, Office 1119270 Mosvcow, RussiaTel: +7 495 777 [email protected]

All rights reserved Printed by Blitzprint, MoscowRepresentative office:127051, Moscow, Petrovsky Boulevard, Dom 10

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The WCR e.V. will celebrate its 5th anniversary reception in January 2015.

We celebrate 5 years of existence and active work in the WCR e.V. – a balance sheet of over 200 events and many meetings among friends. Here is a chance to take a peek at upcoming highlights and new encounters...

The WCR invites you to the anniversary party at a New Year’s reception.

Venue: Swissotel Krasnye Kholmy, Kosmodamianskaya nab. 52, bld. 6, Moscow, Tuesday 27th 2015Start: 19:0019:30 welcome, guests, reception20:00 artists congratulate the WCR20.30 buffet and networking -”Dialogue promotes

confidence” Registration fee: 1500 roubles, members free

admission

Registration at: www.wirtschaftsclubrussland.org, join “5 years of WCR”

Wirtschaftsclubrussland


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News And Announcements

Antal Russia, a British mid-to-senior level executive recruitment company is proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary! Currently employing over 100 staff in its Moscow office, Antal Russia has had a continuous presence in the Russian capital since opening its doors in 1994 and has recently opened an office in Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan (this is in addition to two offices in Kazakhstan – in Almaty & Astana). As was to be expected, the celebrations were lively, and here’s to the next twenty years of success!

The 1st of September saw the arrival of a new school bell for a new English International School near Prospekt Vernadskogo. Moscow South-West’s oldest student, Sofia in Year 6, rang the First Bell as parents, students and staff assembled in the school for the first time. This was followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony before everyone went to their brand new classrooms. Soon after opening its third school in the South West of Moscow the Chairman of Orbital Education, Mr Kevin McNeany, said “What a delight to visit our wonderful new school. I can see that already it is a place of happiness.”

Antal’s 20 Year AnniversaryIf you have a problem with alcohol and you are in Moscow, other

alcoholics who are sober meet every evening in the basement of St. Andrew’s Anglican Church on Voznezensky Pereulok, opposite the Marriott Courtyard hotel. Monday-Friday 19.30, Saturday 17.00 and Sunday 18.00. All meetings are conducted in English. We would be pleased to see you. [email protected] / Steve +79852117140

Alcoholics Anonymous

English Language Evenings is an independent, open, public English-language lecture forum in Moscow, having hosted more than 240 meetings and ~200 different speakers since starting in 1998. Among the PURPOSES of ELE is the providing of intelligent-intellectual evenings in Moscow in English, the presentation of a wide variety of topics and speakers, and the promotion of more personal contacts between the speakers and Russians in Moscow. The lectures cost 100 roubles to attend.

Lectures in December, January and February will take place either in the meeting hall of the Chekhov Cultural Center, or the ‘reading room’ of the Chekhov Library; the entrance is from Strastnoi Bulvar 8. The final location will be announced later. Check: http://www.elemoscow.net/index.html

English Language Evenings

Martin Cooke, Performance Poet, Theatre Director and Actor.

December 12, 2014

“The Future of Ancient Poetry”

Dr. Sam Potolicchio -- Distinguished Professor and Department Chair of Global Leadership Studies at the Russian Presidential Academy for National Economy and Public Administration, Distinguished Professor at Georgetown University, USA, and President of Preparing Global Leaders Foundation, Moscow, Skopje, and Amman.

January 16, 2015

“How to Become a Prime Minister or CEO!”

Mary Shea, recent alumni program manager of Eurasia FLEX.

February 27, 2015

“The Soviet-American Sail of 1989: Remembering the Adventures and Lessons of that Atlantic Ocean Journey 25 Years Later”

Philil Gill, EL teacher and language consultant

February 13, 2015

“English: Whose Language Is It Anyway?”

A NEW BELL FOR MOSCOW

Galya Morrell – Russian-American performance and multimedia artist, reporter and photographer, co-founder of Expedition Avannaa and Ole Jorgen Hammeken – Greenlandic polar explorer, educator, author and actor actor and co-founder of Expedition Avannaa.

January 30, 2015

“Becoming an Adventurer: What Does It Take to Become an adventurer? “

Community

oscow is renowned for its many balls and gala events, one even more spectacular than the next. But if you ask

members of the International Women’s Club of Moscow about their favourite ball, you will receive one unanimous answer: they are all eagerly looking forward to the IWC Embassies of the World Dinner and Ball.

The Embassies of the World Dinner and Ball – or EDB in short – is one of the largest fundraising events organized by the IWC and

the proceeds go to numerous local charity projects that are monitored by the Club’s Charity Board. Last spring the EDB was organized for the 18th year in a row and the 2014 edition of this unique event was a grand success: all tickets were sold out, fundraising objectives were more than achieved with over 1.3 million roubles in proceeds, and 300 guests had an unforgettable evening.

What makes the EDB different from the many other events organized in Russia’s bustling

capital? As the name reveals, the EDB is not just a ball: for most guests the evening begins with an elegant dinner at one of the hosting embassies or diplomatic residences in Moscow. It goes without saying that the quality of the food is excellent, but it is the warm hospitality and the welcoming atmosphere that guests find outstanding and still talk about months after the event takes place.

For the previous edition of the EDB the embassies of Angola, Chile, Egypt, India, Poland, Serbia,

IWC Embassies of the World Dinner and Ball

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Community

Switzerland, Uruguay and the USA hosted dinners that exceeded all expectations. For many guests the event is a once in a lifetime opportunity to step beyond the walls of an embassy or residence, meet the diplomats and their families, and discover a slice of that country’s culture right here in Moscow.

After having enjoyed an excellent dinner, everybody gathers at a central location for the second part of the evening, filled with music and dance. In 2014 the art deco

ballroom of Hotel Metropol was the beautiful setting for the ball, where ladies in stunning evening gowns and gentlemen dressed in their black-tie outfits meet friends, while sipping festive cocktails and wines from all over the world. Live entertainment keeps the dance floor full, and the charity raffle and silent auction are known to create extra excitement thanks to the luxurious items involved.

The 19th Embassies of the World Dinner and Ball will take place in March 2015 and

it promises to be an edition to expectantly look forward to: under the lead of Ms Afrah Alfaddaghi, IWC President and spouse of the Ambassador of Kuwait, the IWC is determined to organize an event that is unequalled, both for guests that have wonderful memories of previous EDBs and for those who are about to be enchanted for the first time.

For more information about the IWC and its most remarkable charity event, including ticket sales details, please visit www.iwcmoscow.ru.

American and British rock music was loved by many in the USSR; back then, though, the heroes of that music lived only on vinyl records and tape reels, and on pages of ‘Studenchesky Meridian’ and ‘Rovesnik’ magazines. Ken Hensley, known here as songwriter and keyboard player for ‘Uriah Heep’, was one such hero. Times have changed, and now he often visits former USSR counties. He’s worked with Russian musicians to record and perform, and has been to more cities than any average local (or an expat keen on seeing as much as possible while living and working in a different country! By the way - Hensley himself is also an expat, living in Spain). His 2014 tour brought him to Russia on November 11. Starting in Bryansk, his Russian tour included

23 cities, such as Smolensk, Saint Petersburg, Tver, Kaluga, Saratov, Omsk, Novosibirsk, and, of course, Moscow, where he played November 27 in the Театр Club. Hensley is not just an experienced musician who spent over 40 years making music history with the world’s legendary hard-rock bands. He is a poet, who learnt to play instruments only to turn his poetry into songs, and a Christian who lives to shine the light of God’s love everywhere he goes. From the stage, he shares his heart. This is what makes his concerts a very special experience.

To see if he’s playing in your city (or the city you happen to be travelling to, exploring Russia) visit http://www.ken-hensley.com/tour.html

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News and Announcements Ken Hensley 2014 tour – Moscow, St Petersburg and 20+ more Russian cities in November

In October the ‘Deutsche Gruppe Moskau’ (German Group Moscow) celebrated it’s first anniversary with a lovely event at the InterContinental Hotel Moscow last week.

The group was founded in October last year has now reached more than 100 members from10 different countries. A logo has been designed and the website was launched. Everyone that speaks German is happy to join us, We meet every 2nd Wednesday of the month from 10.00am-12.00pm at the InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya. We organize many different events and tours that you can find on our web-side calendar.

For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Susanne van Alphen, e-mail: [email protected] or visit our web-side at www.deutschegruppemoskau.com

Deutsche Gruppe Moskau’s First Anniversary

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News and Announcements

Uxmal records, Mexico, releases ‘Dreams are Toyz’ by The Theatre of Love, Moscow. November 24, 2014 Genre: Electronic melodeclamation

What’s ‘The Theatre of Love?’ As they themselves say, quoting Byron – ‘All that’s best of dark and bright.’

‘To play is to be’, wrote Schiller. And ‘to stop playing is to stop being,’ explains Martin Cooke, and goes on to talk about Shakespeare’s ‘A Winter’s Tale,’ where tragedy and humor go hand in hand. ‘Our mission of incommensurability is to remember that we try to do it for fun,’ states Martin. What’s fun? ‘Fun is playing. Playing Shakespeare with disco music to see what happens,’ and not only Shakespeare. The suicidal youth Thomas Chatterton, the mysterious Edgar Alan Poe, the ‘lively poet’ Thomas Hood… For over two years, Martin Cooke, deep poet and magnetic performer, together with electronic wizard Sergey Bondarenko and guitarist Anton Salikov – with friends (musicians and artists) – have been pouring the words of classical, and Martin’s

own, poetry into the ever-changing form of their own making they named electronic melodeclamation. ‘Our album is – well, dark,’ Sergey told me. And later, leaving the venue – a dimly lit room of a tea-house - after a recent concert, I heard someone from the audience tell Martin, ‘there’s a sense of light about your music.’ The interplay of dark and bright. The fun.

Upcoming shows: Donnie’s Bar, December 6, 7:30 pm, Masterskaya, December 17, 8 p.m. For more information and tickets, visit https://www.facebook.com/TheTheatreOfLove

Beginners’ classes every Saturday held in English and Russian at the The Esse Jazz Cafés and other venues

Not essential to come with a partner. For more information contact Richard at [email protected] or phone +7 903 558 71 35.

Co-op Jive - www.coopjive.co.uk

FREE JIVE DANCE CLASSES IN MOSCOW !

TO PLAY IS TO BE

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Christmas BazaarDec. 6. 1:00pm-4:00pmVisit our traditional English

Christmas Bazaar and stock up on some great gifts for the holidays. We’ll also have master classes for kids and adults and snacks! Find out more on our Facebook event page.

Christmas PageantDec. 14. 3:00pmThe children of St. Andrews and

the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy will join together to put on a Christmas play.

Dec. 24. 4:00pm - Family service with Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy

11:15pm - Midnight MassDec. 25 8:30am -

Holy Communion11:00 am - Family service

Chaplain’s Open HouseDec. 26 7:00pmBring a holiday dish to share for

this festive gathering with the St. Andrew’s family

EpiphanyJan. 4. Regular services at 8:30 and 11am

The Holiday Season at St. Andrews in December/January

8 Vosnesensky Per.Metro: Okhotny Ryad, Pushkinskaya, Arbatskayawww.moscowanglican.com; www.facebook.com/moscowanglican

Celebrate the holiday season at St. Andrews Anglican Chaplaincy

Carol ServiceDec. 14. 6:30pmPlease join us for our annual

service of Lessons and Carols. Christmas Services

This summer, the Malaysian Embassy organized the first Malaysian Culture Festival in Moscow, which was held at the Kuzminki Park, from 20-21 June, 2014. The event was launched by the Ambassador of Malaysia to the Russian Federation, His Excellency Dato’ Zainol Abidin Omar with the presence of the Director of Tourism Malaysia Moscow, Madam Noridah Kamarudin.

2014 was a special year for tourism in Malaysia as it had been designated as the Visit Malaysia Year. A lot of

activities were held during the Festival to demonstrate the wonders and richness of Malaysia – Truly Asia. According to Ambassador Zainol, the Embassy had decided to create a piece of Malaysia here in Moscow, and through the magic of music, dance, art and Malaysian cuisine hope to acquaint the Russian public with Malaysia’s culture and give them the opportunity to feel the fascinating and diverse culture in Malaysia.

Visitors to the Festival had the opportunity to indulge into and

experienced the uniqueness of the rich cultural heritage of Malaysia – taste unique cuisine such as roti canai and teh tarik (pull tea), watch live traditional dance performances which were brought all the way from Malaysia.

‘Batik’, is a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to cloth. Although a tradition of making batik is found in various countries, the batik of Indonesia, is the most well-known. In October 2009, UNESCO designated Indonesian batik as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

The embassy of Indonesia in Moscow in collaboration with Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia held workshops on hand-written Batik and hand-woven Tanimbarese Fabric on 3-4 June 2014, at the Residence of the Ambassador of Indonesia in Moscow.

Two Indonesian women artists with expertise in creating traditional batik and woven Tanimbarese fabric; Ms. Venny Afwani (Alam Batik House) and Ms. Thermutis Malis demonstrated techniques of how to create hand-written Batik and woven Tanimbarese fabric. These events were successful and were much appreciated judging by the tremendous, response from the Diplomatic Corps in Moscow, the Friends of Indonesia, International Woman Associations, International Students and others who participated at the workshops.

“Indonesia is well known for Batik, and it’s time for us to continue in promoting

the richness of Indonesian traditional fabrics. Tanimbar has not only its well known woven fabrics but also as a tourist destination is very potential” said H.E Mr. Djauhari Oratmangun, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Russian Federation and Republic of Belarus at that event.

Hand-written Batik and Hand-woven Tanimbarese Fabric in Moscow

First Malaysian culture festival celebrated in Moscow

Diplomatic

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AppointmentsIn August, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church welcomed a new chaplain, the Reverend Clive

Fairclough. Prior to his ordination, Revd. Fairclough was a professional fundraiser for a variety of charities, including the Prince’s Trust. He also served a full career as an Army officer in the Royal Artillery. He and his wife, Jo, look forward to discovering Moscow. Revd. Fairclough hopes to increase the presence of St. Andrews in the local community. In addition to offering regular services, St. Andrews also supports several charities. More information about the church and its work can be found at www.moscowanglican.org and Facebook.com/MoscowAnglican.

Oliver Eller has been appointed as the general manager of Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow and as area director of Russia.

A German national, he started his career with a traditional apprenticeship in hotel management at the Maritim Staatsbadhotel Bad Salzuflen. After being granted a scholarship, Oliver broadened his horizons and knowledge at the highly regarded Cornell School of Hotel Administration in Ithaca, USA. After his graduation, he worked in various positions in Miami, Buenos Aires and Bahrain. In 1999, he began working for Ritz-Carlton, where he was the general manager of the Ritz-Carlton Schlosshotel Berlin. With this position, he supported the openings of Ritz-Carlton properties in Egypt, New Orleans and Atlanta. This was followed by management positions at the Ritz-Carlton in Wolfsburg and in Berlin at the Potsdamer Platz.

Oliver Eller is not new to the Russian hotel market. In 2005, he moved to Moscow where he opened the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in 2007 and turned it into the world-famous one. As general manager, he was responsible for this prestigious hotel, with its 410 rooms and 600 staff. Since then, he has learned to speak decent Russian, likes Russian food and observes Russian traditions. He has a Russian wife and two children.

Taking over the reigns of Hotel Baltschug Kempinski brings Oliver back to Moscow. In addition to his new role as general manager of Moscow property, Oliver will be overseeing other Kempinski properties in the Russian Federation.

New Anglican Chaplain arrives in Moscow

Back to Russia: Oliver Eller has been appointed General Manager of Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow and Kempinski Area Director of Russia

This year the event raised 4.3 million roubles, which will pay for individual and group therapy and specialized pre-school programmes for the children of CCP. Since its foundation

in 1989, leading Moscow children’s charity CCP has improved the lives of over 15,000 families with children with special needs.

290 guests gathered for the event and were treated to an exhibition of photos of CCP by Oleg Singareev, live music by VIA Tatiana and a striking new film about CCP by Alexei Platonov and Andrei Loshak entitled ‘Vera’.

Auction lots included an all-expenses paid trip to the 2015 World Hockey Championships in Prague and dinner at home with the Chef de Cuisine from the Ritz-Carlton. The live and silent auctions, lottery, CCP shop and ticket sales raised a phenomenal total 4.3 millon roubles. The ball was organised by Action Group marketing agency and held in Design Zavod Flacon. The event was made possible thanks to generous sponsorship from Action Group, Svyaznoy, Unicredit Bank, Heineken, Original in Berlin and Flacon.

For more information about CCP, please see their web site: www.ccp.org.ru.

If you would like to support future Action charity events for CCP then contact Michael Green on 89670591172 or [email protected]

4.3 million roubles raised for CCP at Action Group’s fourth annual charity auction

n bygone days, renewing your passport in Russia was a cinch that saw one rocking up to the consular section of the British Embassy here in Moscow, presenting the appropriate documents. Two weeks later you trotted back to collect your duly delivered

new one. Would that it were so simple nowadays, alas it isn’t!UK citizens residing in the UK have endured a

summer of abject misery due to the fact that our Home Office suffered a complete meltdown, with backlogs of up to six months leading to up to half a million people without the ability to travel, which enforced holiday cancellations and financial losses.

Fast forward to today, and if you want to renew your passport while remaining in the Motherland, a not too dissimilar picture to the UK situation emerges. I experienced this to my detriment when, emulating my 2009 sortie, I again turned up at our Embassy with the purpose of renewing my passport, only to be blocked by Embassy’s equivalent of ‘face control’ who vehemently refused my entry on the grounds that I didn’t have a prior booked appointment. To get an appointment, you need to have completed an online application form with a reference number, then you’ll be lucky if you can get an appointment in under a week. It was at this point I understood that the minimum time to get your new passport back is quoted as eight weeks. So if you add in the time taken to get an appointment plus any unforeseen circumstances occurring (more than likely), you are realistically looking at the best part of three months to receive your new passport as it has to be sent off soemwhere for processing.

This is a totally ridiculous timescale as the majority of expats here are either senior managers in large companies or are running there own businesses. I therefore came to the inevitable conclusion that the only way for me to renew my passport in a shorter timescale was to fly to London and do the express seven day service, but then you’re reliant on the British postal service. The other alternative is to pay a bit extra (around fifty pounds) for the premium service on offer which promised to turn it around in four hours flat- a no brainer if ever there was one.

One of my good friends rang me to say he had just been through the premium process and said: “Honestly, Simon, it’s a piece of cake, and I had to keep pinching myself as it was almost too easy.” However he, like ninety nine point nine percent of people, only possessed one UK passport, and as long as the paperwork presented is correct, you really shouldn’t encounter a problem. I possess two.

For either situation you need to complete a renewal application form in black ink which you can get from any post office. In truth this is disturbingly easy to fill in, as it is pretty much your basic personal details and official address, and it literally took around ten minutes to complete. Next you need two photos, one of which should be countersigned by someone who can confirm this is a true likeness to yourself.

All you need after that is the necessary fee which for the standard service is £72.50 plus £8.75 postage fee, or £128.00 for the premium service for a standard

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Community

Renewing a UK Passport in Russia

Simon Green

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passport size or £137.00 for the 48 page jumbo passport size which is what most expats would choose due to their extensive travelling. However, in my case, where I was applying for renewing one of my two current passports, it was absolutely essential to bring with you an accompanying letter from a company (signed and stamped) clearly stating the reasons for requiring an additional passport. You also need to put the current second passport number on the application form and bring said passport with you to present with the other documents.

Bearing all this in mind, I set off in good faith on my first ever Easyjet flight which surpassed all expectations, and presented everything to the Passport Centre for what I assumed (the mother of all evils) would be a fairly routine assignment- how wrong I was!

They deemed my support letter not to have sufficient explanations on it, and also my photos, which I had had done in a photo booth in a metro in downtown Moscow, didn’t have the right background on them. I then went to one of several booths they have in the office to rectify this situation, only to be told upon my return that they needed to be countersigned. I was not able to phone my Moscow office and get a new letter faxed across with additional wording they had kindly suggested as they insisted on an original document with ‘wet ink.’ At that point I realized the Gods were conspiring against me so I left empty handed muttering rather dark oaths to myself!

Two weeks later, equipped with a new letter and proper photos, I booked another Easyjet flight. This time, they took a photocopy of my second passport, took the support letter with what appeared to be no more than a cursory glance at it this time. Four hours later, ‘heh presto,’ my new passport in all its glory was handed to me and I tried very hard not to look too relieved!

I can only hope the procedure won’t differ too much in another five years when I have to return to renew my existing passport. I have to this is not an experience I would recommend to anyone. It’s much better to stick with just one as that process is far more straightforward.

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Moscow Village Fete, at St. Andrews

Community

17

his September, the St. Andrews Anglican Church held its seventh annual Moscow Village Fete. The event, which is set up like a traditional British fete, included food, games and items for sale. More than 500

people attended the event, which raised nearly 180,000 roubles for the St. Andrews Restoration Fund. Other groups participating in the fete, including the Moscow Protestant Chaplaincy and the British Business Club also raised funds for charities they support. The fete was organized by St. Andrews church warden Jennifer Howard and church council member Louise Nanchen.

The church will host its annual Christmas bazaar on Dec. 4.

T

Community

18

Community

Summer Boat Tripver 200 members

of the BBC, AEB,

RBCC and friends

embarked on a

boat trip on the

river Moskva late

this summer. A suitably large

river boat, the ‘Kolesov’ was

hired for the evening, which

provided plenty of space for

classic rock and roll band Vadim

Ivaschenko and the Boneshakers

to excite guests’ often hidden

love for those good old 1960-

80s numbers. In between the

stomping, jiving and stumbling,

Elena Romananko provided

some soft, romantic interludes.

O

19

On the lower deck a sumptuous array of food and

alcohol quickly disappeared, as the fresh sea – well river air –

encouraged a good appetite, and made guests more thirsty

than usual. Impromptu business discussions held in quieter

places aboard the ‘Kolosev’ soon turned into social encounters,

as indeed they should do when gliding up the river Moskva on a

Mississippi river boat complete with large churning paddles, in

the Russian Indian summer.

Thank you to all sponsors, particularly Heineken, Pepsi, Yuri

Navarro’s Restaurant, Hewlett-Packard (who provided these

photos). Lottery sponsors were British Airways, Ararat Park Hyatt

Moscow and Fort-Truck Company.

The trip was organised by the British Business Club in Russia.

Community

I don’t know where I would have gone, on a cold mid-November Saturday in Moscow, but to the Ritz Carlton Tverskaya. And I had a good reason for that, just like over 300 others: as tradition has it, its doors opened again this year to MPC Social Services Harvest Ball.

Spending every dime for a wonderful time

Elegant attire, Champaign reception, speeches, dinner, live and silent auctions, music, dance. It’s all beautiful, exciting, and important: 1/3 of the MPC Social Services annual budget is constituted by the Gala proceeds to benefit immigrants, refugees, single-parent families and pensioners in Moscow. This years’ Harvest ball was sponsored by Baker Botts (Platinum Sponsor), Coca-Cola, Moscow Brewing Company, Russian Standard Vodka, Villa Vinifera Wine Cellar (Silver Sponsors), and the dinner was cooked by the talented Ritz-Carlton kitchen. Numerous leaders from the business and diplomatic communities were in attendance, including Australian Ambassador Paul Myler and his wife Angela; Irish Ambassador Eoin O’Leary and his wife Anne Delaney; Mr. Mark Neukomm, general manager of the Ritz-Carlton, and his wife Kaoru; Mr. Stephen Ansell, general manager of the Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow, and his wife Claire; Mr. Glenn Waller, president of ExxonMobil

Russia, and his wife Agnes; Mr. Rick Witt, general manager of Cameron, and his wife Leslie; Rev.Clive Fairclough, Chaplain of St Andrews Church, and his wife Joanna; Bishop Eduard Khegay of the United Methodist Church and his wife Victoria Nogay; principal dancer at Kremlyovsky Ballet, Joy Womack, and many other guests from the Russian and expat diplomatic, business and art community. Powered by MPC Social Services staff and a group of volunteers, the event was a success, having raised at least $86,000.

“Though it’s the sixth Harvest Ball, it’s the first for MPC Social Services to celebrate their own harvest!”, Rick Witt (GM at Cameron, President of MPC church council), says. “This year, MPC broke new ground with the Seeds of Hope Farm.” The Farm is a community-supported agriculture project that brings together farmers and consumers of organic, sustainably grown produce in the Moscow Oblast, with staff members Andrew Grenfell and Andy Millman in charge. Throughout the season, UNHCR refugees, MPC community members, farm share-holders, AAS students, and some volunteers worked on the farm.

The MPC Social Services team: Rev. Matthew Laferty, Immani Burg, Andrew and Penny Grenfell, Rick Witt, AndyMillman, Kendra Twenter, and over 20 volunteers – have put their best effort, skill, talent, time and inspiration into planning and organizing the Gala.

MPC social services: Putting on the Ritz for their November Charity Ball

Have you seen the well-to-do, up and down Park Avenue’On that famous thoroughfare, with their noses in the air…Spending every dime for a wonderful time?If you’re blue and you don’t know where to go toWhy don’t you go where fashion sits, Putting on the Ritz?

(Irving Berlin, “ Putting on the Ritz”)

Community

Helen Borodina

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Community

*** The band stopped playing, the lights in the ballroom

went on, and the guests started leaving, many of them carrying the works of art they had bought.

This year, the Gala’s decoration theme were roses. As I was leaving, I saw a rose on the floor. Picking it up, I thought of Oscar Wilde’s “Rose and Nightingale”, where the author seems to be questioning whether it’s worth doing anything with noble intentions. Yes, it is. The work of MPC social services is living proof to that.

For more information, opportunities and contacts, please visit http://mpcss.org/

Special thanks to Immani Burg

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The Golf Night at City Golf has been going strong, and seems to be gaining momentum as the cold weather sets in. In this article, two golf professionals, who work in Moscow, tell us how they keep up their skills during the winter.

PJ golf professional, entered the industry at the age of 16 in England. Worked his way up through 6 different countries, a number of different golf clubs including the Montgomerie Dubai and is now working in Russia. Loves opening new golf courses. Coming in before they open, setting up the operation, working with the team, “something I really thrive on.”

What does a golf pro like you do in the winter?

The fashion now is for the expat golf pro to be on a 12-month contract, so obviously half of that contract will be in the winter months. So during the winter it’s basically two things. Firstly preparation for the following season, that could be planning for the golf calendar, it could be doing some updates to the website, to make sure he following season is a success. Secondly, we take part in winter trips and activities for our members. For example, in December, we’ll go to Spain and have a game against a club in Spain. We might have a Christmas dinner altogether, just to keep the momentum going, to keep playing golf. Also, for example, at City Golf tonight, I will come here, and occasionally a few of our members will come down, and we’ll continue the golf atmosphere, throughout the whole year. It’s really important to keep playing all year round.

20

Community

Moscow expat Life WEEKLY GOLF NIGHT

Peter Holland

Class AA golf professional, TPI certified, (Titleist Performance Institute). Used to work at the La Quinta Golf and Country Club in Marbella and The Address Montgomerie Dubai. Whilst in Russia, I work at Agalarov Golf and Country Club in the summer months, and City Golf Moscow in the winter.

What do golfers do in the winter?

Well normally, I would go back to Dubai, but I am here full-time at City Golf, looking after day-to-day sessions, giving golf lessons. This is the largest indoor facility in Russia. We’ve just had a major renovation including simulator up-grade. We have installed GolfZon which are the market leading Golf Simulator worldwide. The simulators work well as teaching tools, a lot of the local professionals are coming here now to keep their skills up during the winter, because obviously the golf courses are all closed now. That’s why I’m here full time. I will go to Dubai a couple of times during the off-season, but predominantly, I’m here.

These events are held every Wednesday evening from 7.30pm at the City Golf club,

at 5 Bersenevsky lane, Building 2, Moscow.

Special coaching is available for new players, and those ore experienced, we have organised a 9 hole,

4 ball tournament. For more details, please see http://moscowexpatlife.ru/golf/

21

Community

William Bruce

s it possible for a young professional to live in the centre of Moscow on 1000 roubles per week? I decided to find out by trying it. Moscow’s federal minimum wage is 12,000 roubles per month and in other parts of Russia, the minimum is as low as 5,554 roubles, this is due to increase by 7.4% in 2015.

In this issue Sophia Tupolev, a Russian-American, concentrates on something that very few of us have had to do. But maybe one day we will, at least temporarily, and could benefit from trying to understand what it is like to live on 1,000 roubles a week in Moscow.

Moscow on 1,000 Roubles a Week?

By Sophia Tupolev

I1. I make Moscow’s federal minimum wage, 12,000 roubles per month. 2. 1,000 roubles is what is left over after living expenses, utilities, and communication costs.3. The week’s budget of 1,000 roubles has to cover transportation, food, household goods, and entertainment.4. I take the metro to and from work five days per week and don’t use the metro on weekends. I have a pre-existing Troika stored value metro card.5. I am single and don’t have financial support from a partner.6. I won’t starve if I follow a diet that includes fish, eggs, vegetables, oils, fruits, and nuts.

1. As I am a single woman in Moscow, it’s reasonable to assume that I would go on dates. However, for the duration of the experiment, I am limited to one date if it involves the other person paying for me. 2. If friends visit me at home, they cannot bring anything to my house that costs over 100 roubles.3. I can visit my friends at their homes but only if they don’t know about the challenge and invite me without any initiative on my part.4. Everything pre-existing in my fridge must be priced and factored into the budget if I consume it.

Here’s what happened.

I was enthusiastic about the prospect of having an excuse to eat French fries and ice cream all week, but today a friend who just moved to Moscow asked me to lunch. I considered postponing it to next week, but my wish to see him prevailed. Nervously, I ordered a coffee at Coffeemania, which is not affordable on this budget at 125 roubles for an espresso. I had to be able to offer to pay for myself, although he didn’t allow it, and this means that I wouldn’t accept any other invitations for the duration of the experiment. When I mentioned the experiment in hypothetical terms, he discouraged me from attempting it. He might have been right, because the estimated spread sheet of expenses that I wrote up left me with 102 roubles a day for food and household goods.

Today’s budget was 56 roubles for the metro to and from work. I diluted my dishwashing liquid with water because it was running out. I distracted myself from my lean breakfast of an omelette with milk by watching a

TV show before I went to work. Once I was at there, I was startled that on this budget, I couldn’t afford to eat at the office canteen, where cooked buckwheat costs 40 roubles for 100 grams. The cheapest uncooked buckwheat I was able to find at a store was 18 roubles for 900 grams.

In order to save money on transportation, I worked from home today and went out for groceries. The dishwashing liquid had run out, but I couldn’t bring myself to buy the cheapest one, thinking of the chemicals. I later regretted spending 98 roubles on a bottle of dishwashing liquid that was probably just as toxic. I splurged on oatmeal (32 roubles), which is slightly more expensive than buckwheat, but it is nutritious and satisfying even without the dried nuts and fruit that I wanted to add but couldn’t afford, at upwards of 200 roubles a pack. Will I be able to eat in a healthy way this week? I thought this article would end up being about free entertainment in the city but all I could think about was food!

Assumptions:For the sake of the experiment, I assume that the following is true:

Rules: I have to live on my budget without support from others. This means that the following rules must apply.

22


Sunday, August 17th, 2014

Monday, August 18th, 2014

Tuesday, August 19th, 2014

I began to run out of eggs and found the cheapest ones in a food kiosk in a neighbourhood courtyard for 25 roubles for a 10-pack. Feeling irritated and hungry made it more difficult to work at the office, where I drank kefir (25 roubles) and ate a banana (11 roubles). I declined a date invitation without revealing the reason, and spent the evening thoroughly bored at my computer at home, glad that I had budgeted internet costs outside of this.

French fries (±70 roubles) at the main fast food restaurants in the centre turned out to be too expensive. In fact, most snack foods were. Grocery shopping at the bulk retailers and markets outside of the city was not considered. However, for a near lack of options in the centre, I found two ‘economy-class supermarkets’ on my way to work, although a 15-minute walk from the nearest metro. There, I found a small onion for 1 rouble and a beet for 9 roubles.

Decreased cognitive function is a great excuse for writer’s block, and I used it today. I couldn’t wait until this experiment was over, questioning my sanity in attempting it. At the start of the week, I had made it difficult for myself to slip up by leaving myself with one debit card with 500 roubles on it and cash with the other 500. Remembering it was the start of the Sabbath and I needed to observe it regardless of the circumstances, I trudged to the supermarket across the street and picked up the bare minimum. The cheapest wine I found was in a bottle for 159 roubles, a saccharine red liquid that tasted like the smell of a hangover.

“I can’t quit now, not on the last day,” I thought.

Sophia Tupolev is a seasoned expat in Moscow, and leads the Russian Conversation Club, which she founded in 2009, and is now sponsored by RT. She is an advisor to the Editor-in-Chief at RT and the Russia Representative for American Citizens Abroad, an advocacy group for American expats’ rights. She can be reached at www.asksophie.ru .

Free Classifieds!Advertise for free in Moscow’s community Classified Advertisements

http://moscowexpatlife.ru/classified-ads/

Transportation: 224 roubles (22.4% of my budget)Food: 421 (42.1% of my budget)Wine: 159 (15.9% of my budget)Household goods: 174.8 (17.4% of my budget)

Use of funds

Per unit

Number of units

Total cost

Purchase location

Metro ride 28 8 224 Moscow metroFood per kg or

unitQuantity Total cost Purchase location

GrainsOatmeal 32 .9 kg 28.8 supermarket

Buckwheat 20 .9 kg 18 supermarketBorodino

Bread16.30 1 16.30 supermarket

DairyEggs 2.5 10 25 kiosk

Cheese 346 0.176 kg 60.90 supermarketKefir 25 1 25 supermarketMilk 43 1 43 supermarket

FruitBanana 11 1 11 supermarket

Watermelon 19 5 kg 95 supermarketApples 34 1 34 Product Shop

Tangerine 11 1 11 supermarketTomatoes 39.90 0.231 kg 9.22 supermarket

VegetablesOnion 1 1 1 supermarketBeet 9 1 9 Magnolia

SplurgeIce Cream

Cone17 1 17 supermarket

Bottled Water 17 1 17 supermarketWine 159 1 159 supermarket

Household goods

Per unit Number of units

Total cost Purchase location

Dishwashing liquid

98 1 98 Product Shop

Soap 18 0.3 5.4 Product ShopDish sponges 1.38 5 6.9 Product Shop

Shampoo 74 0.1 7.4 Product ShopConditioner 54 0.1 5.4 Product Shop

Laundry powder

73 0.1 7.3 Product Shop

Toothpaste 36 0.4 14.4 supermarketTP 15 2 30 Product Shop

1. There are few affordable grocery options in the centre. Magnolia is a good bet for the price – quality ratio, but Monetka is better albeit further away from metro stations. Dixy was the cleanest and very cheap, although far enough from the metro to require multiple trips during the week.2. The social life that many expats are accustomed to in Moscow is not possible on a budget of 1,000 roubles per week. Forget drinks, dinners, and coffees. 3. Many of us are not price-sensitive or even price-conscious when it comes to the rouble.

4. My entertainment options were limited to free events, but I was too tired to go out after work.

Is it possible to survive on 1,000 roubles a week in the centre of Moscow? It is, and many of the city’s residents do it. However, it is difficult to eat well on this budget. Of course, most people who live on minimum wage and on their pensions do not live in the center and have other forms of social support, including subsidized transportation costs. It is easier to do this with some advance planning and lifestyle adjustments.

Takeaways gleaned from conducting the experiment and from discussing it:

23


Wednesday, August 20th, 2014

Thursday, August 21st, 2014

Friday, August 22nd, 2014

Saturday, August 23rd, 2014

24

am very pleased that ‘Moscow expat Life’ decided to focus its current issue on the Italian community.

According to official estimates, 3,000 Italians live in Russia – 2,000 of them in Moscow. The numbers are actually much higher, since many Italians travel back and forth between

the two countries, especially for business. It is a small but vibrant community, made of businesspeople, diplomats,

academics, artists, and students – or those who are passionate about this fascinating country.

Italy’s ties with Russia are indeed deep and strong. We rank as second trade partner, with more than 400 Italian companies operating in Russia in many different sectors. Italy is among the top destination for Russian tourists. There is between our peoples a sense of a common history and of a great shared culture – not to mention a feeling of sympathy that spontaneously brings us together.

I hope that this issue of ‘Moscow expat Life’ will help to highlight the richness and the diversity of the Italian community in Moscow. Being an expat myself, I can only wish you ‘buona lettura’!

Message from the Italian Ambassador Cesare Maria Ragagline

Maurizio Forte

I

ITALIAN

L’Ambasciatore Cesare Maria Ragaglini

Italian Community

How did the ITA start?

The Italian trade Agency started its activities in Italy in 1926, and we opened our first office in Moscow in 1966. We now also have offices in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, and office arrangements in Krasnodar and Sochi to take care of the south of the country.

Is the ITA a private or government-run organisation?

The ITA is a 100% government-backed agency, we are under the supervision of the Italian ministry of economic development. Part of our budget is covered by the services that we sell. All basic services are supplied free, but the more complicated services, the tailor-made services are charged for.

What is the mission of the ITA?

To support the internationalisation of the Italian economy and Italian companies. We pay particular attention to SMEs, because Italy has over 4 million companies, and over 90% of them are 15 people or less. When we say that long word internationalisation, we are mainly talking about promoting exports, but also in some cases to support imports, because Italy has to import a lot of industrial raw materials. We are very involved with helping Italian companies invest in Russia.

How do companies join the ITA?

Whenever any Italian company needs help, we operate as a kind of first aid provider. For example, they need a customs code, or they need

Direttore Ufficio ICE di Mosca (ITA Italian Trade Agency)Coordinatore Rete ICE nella Federazione Russia, Armenia, Bielorussia e Turkmenistan. Addetto Promozione Scambi

information for them to enter the market. If we receive 200 emails, we have to send 200 replies. Our work is divided into two main areas. Firstly, we help companies into two parts. Firstly, we provide information and support for companies wishing to export to Russia, secondly, we supply specialised help for individual companies who might want to find a particular kind of business partner and so on, give advise on how to run a business here and so on. When we charge, we charge according to the complexity of the job involved. We also create corporate agreements with some large companies, which helps them and our clients as information is shared.

Some Chambers seem to concentrate more on lobbying, some more on the commercial side; where do you fall between these two activities?

Most countries have such official trade organisations, I think the UK equivalent is the DTI, or in China it

is the CCPIT. Of course each country handles this in a slightly different way, but the main idea is the same. Mainly we handle export promotion, sometimes investment promotion, and we do some training. We do not do lobbying, as the government and the Chamber of Commerce do this. We do not follow up political initiatives, because this is the job of the embassy, we also do not get involved with tourism, because we have another organisation, which deals with that.

What are we looking at the moment in terms of trade in comparison to what it was a year ago?

Last year (2013) our trade with Russia was close to €31 billion. Two thirds is what Russia has exported to Italy. During the first half of 2014 we experienced a slow down in our exports, mainly because we are buying less oil and gas, raw materials from Russia, and also

Russia is buying less products from us. Over 40% of our exports are made up of technological goods and services. This year, another 20% of our exports were semi-finished products, things that Russia uses in its own industrial processes. 10% is food, 9% is fashion, then we have transportation and furniture. Russia really needs technology and we Europeans are good at producing it.

How long have you been living in Russia?

I arrived in 2013, directly form Shanghai, where I spent 13 years as the head of the ITA in China. I was really happy to be assigned to another very important country. Our exports to Russia are even a little higher than our exports to China, which is amazing given the difference in populations between Russia and China. So far, my wife and me have been pleasantly surprised about this country. The first surprise is Moscow itself, it has turned out to be a very beautiful city. It is quite well organised, apart from the traffic problem. You have all the services you need, expensive but quite well organised. The weather has its own problems, but in Shanghai it was hot and polluted. The people here are very nice, once you get to know them. They have quite a high level of culture, they are in love with Italy and Italian products. On a business level, you have to accept that this is a different country with its own rules, that this is Russia.

To find out more about ITA in Russia, please see the web site:

www.italtrade.com/rossija

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Italian Community

Ambasciata ItalianaTel: +7 495 796 9691, +7 499 241 1533email: [email protected]

Consolato ItalianoTel: +7 495 796 9692, +7 495 916 5449/51email: [email protected]

Scuola Italiana ‘Italo Calvino’tel: +7 499 131 8700, +7 499 131 8756/65email Segreteria: [email protected] Direzione: [email protected]

Cappellania Italianaemail: [email protected]

Istuto Italiano di Culturatel: +7 495 916 5492email: [email protected]@esteri.itwww.iicmosca.esteri.it

ISTITUZIONE ITALIANE

28

How many years have you been in Russia?

Since 1988, I like it very much here. I like the work, everything. As you know, things are very difficult in Italy now because of the crisis and so on. Here I have a lot of very interesting work to do, especially in my work at the Chamber of Commerce, because we work with very many people, with different backgrounds and jobs.

How did you get involved with the CCIR?

I worked with a large industrial furniture group here in Moscow, and was head hunted by the CCIR when the previous director left. It was a really interesting proposal, not for money, because as you know, the chamber of commerce is not a commercial organisation.

How long has the CCIR existed here in Russia? What is its main mission?

The CCIR has existed here for 50 years. Its main mission is to improve the commercial relationship between the two countries. Basically, we work for our members. We are a private

association, but recognised by both governments. We have about 400 members; half of them are Russian, and half Italian. I think it is really good that we are not all Italian. Of course some of our Russian members work with Italian companies, or represent Italian firms. We perform a lot of services for our members, such as visa support both for Italian and Russian applicants. We have arrangements with 10 very good hotels in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and help organise the activities of the ‘Ospitalità Italiana’ for example. We organise trade missions for Italians companies to Russian provinces, and we actively work with international fairs in Italy, especially the exhibitions in Verona, Milan, and Bologna, so we have a lot of different activities. We work very much on a B to B level with our members. Our members very often write to us to solve different problems. We always try to help them.

At the moment, how do you look at the Italian-Russian trade situation?

The situation is very sad, because I think, and not only me, all of the Italian entrepreneurs in Russia think that the sanctions are not a good idea at all, that there are other ways to solve these problems. Our president has given several interviews on this subject.

What are Italian business people in Moscow going to do? Will they have to leave Moscow?

In this situation, I think they will stay in Russia. Of course it is a difficult period, even if they have not been affected by the sanctions, the rouble exchange rate is very high, plus making bank transfers are becoming more difficult, for this reason, of course it’s a difficult time. We attend every international exhibition, there are about 15 a year, and participation levels are the same as last year more or less. But everyone says that there are no new clients, only old clients with limited budgets. Basically we are telling everyone not to panic.

CCIR (Camera di Commercio Italo-Russa)

To find out more about CCIR, see: www.ccir.it/ccir/

Italian Community

Interview with Marisa FlorioDirettore, CCIR (Camera di Commercio Italo-Russa)

ITALIAN

www.moscowexpatlife.ru

27

Dott. Domenico GiordanoBusiness DeveloperCCIR Camera di Commercio Italo-Russia

Domenico, you are in charge of the ‘Ospitalità Italiana’ Italian restaurant approval system, can you explain how this works?

This project as created by the Italian UNIONCAMERE, together with the IS.NA.RT (National Institute for Research on Tourism). The aim is to create a way to guarantee the quality of Italian restaurants and hotels the world over. In Italy, ‘Ospitalità Italiana’ monitors both restaurants and hotels, whilst abroad, certification is offered only for restaurants. There are about 2,000 Italian restaurants world-wide which are certified on a yearly basis.

There is no official Italian Chamber of Commerce in Russia, but there is the CCIR, so we decided to organise the ‘Ospitalità Italiana’ certification system through the CCIR in Russia.

How do restaurants get to take part in the scheme?

There is a simple checklist that we have to fill out when inspecting a restaurant. 90% of the Italian restaurants in Russia are in Moscow, 10% in the regions. We are bound by our charter to inform all owners

of all Italian restaurants about what we do, to explain the aim of this project, then they have to decide to participate or not.

What are the standards that the restaurant has to abide by to be certified?

The restaurant has to have a minimum of one Italian speaker, in Russia, this person is often the chef. 50% of the menu should be in Italian, 30% of the wines should be Italian, and the restaurant must use only Italian olive oil. It’s not good enough to have oil from the EEC, it has to be real Italian olive oil. The chef needs to be either a graduate of an Italian school of cookery, have worked for 6 months in an Italian restaurant in Italy, or for 3 years in an Italian restaurant abroad.

I have to go to the restaurants personally, take photos and make sure that the information they provide us with is correct. I have to upload this information to a special site. Then in Italy there is a special commission that checks everything, and I can tell you that they check seriously. For example, they will check invoices against suppliers, to

make sure that cheese, for example, has the correct D.O.P (Italian Protected Designation of Origin). Each restaurant has to obtain 60 marks out of a 100 points system.

If I want to go to an Italian restaurant in Moscow, how do I know that the restaurant is ‘Ospitalità Italiana’ certified?

If the restaurant qualifies for our certification, they receive a diploma and a sign which they can display in the restaurant. This can be used on the restaurant’s marketing materials and on their menus. These are both renewed every year. All qualifying restaurants all over the world are listed on ‘Ospitalità Italiana’s’ site: www.10q.it . So you can use this system to ascertain the quality of restaurants in Italy as well, if you are going there for a holiday or business.

The situation we are in now must be very difficult for Italian restaurants?

We cant get fresh Italian fruit and vegetables, most Italian Cheeses, some salamis brands, so this makes our work here more difficult, but not impossible.

Amongst the very many activities that the CCIR carries out in Russia, is working with the Italian organisation: ‘Ospitalità Italiana’ to certify the quality of Italian restaurants. Domenico Giordano who has a background in importing Italian foodstuffs into Russia, has been brought in by CCIR to manage this time consuming work. (Editor)

Italian Community

ITALIAN

Opening Party of the Apertura Show room FAP

ITALIAN

28

Italian Community

n the heart of the Russian capital, Hamovnichevsky Val, 36, FAP Ceramiche, opened its first flagship showroom in October. This a workshop of 250 square meters dedicated to designers and architects. A

couple of hundred members of the Italian community and their friends attended to mark the occasion.

I

29

Italian Community

What does Confindustria do?

The main goal of Confindustria is to help Italy’s economic growth, to assist and defend the interests of its members. Confindustria strives to promote various initiatives focused on the development and consolidation of its members, and to this aim, it represents and protects the interests of members before Italian, Russian and European authorities and private institutions. It also collect data and information, which is shared with its members to encourage and simplify business between member companies and Russian government institutions. In order to reach these objectives, Confindustria sometimes collaborates with other non-profit organizations.

How does Confindustria differ from other Italian trade and manufacturing organisations, which are represented in Moscow?

Confindustria has always played a leading role in the landscape of the Italian economy. The 2012 labour reform further strengthened its position as leader. Confindustria is the Italian non-profit employers’ federation, founded in Italy in 1910. Strong in its history, today it

groups together more than 150,000 voluntary member companies in Italy and hundreds more through the Russian Federation. In addition to its Italian headquarters, its network spreads across Europe and the Russian Federation offering a consolidated service to its members.

Who can join Confindustria, and how?

Joining Confindustria is a ‘company-friendly’ process. All legal entities and individuals governed by Italian law and all Russian or other foreign legal entities or individuals, whose activities are financed by no less than 51% Italian capital can join. All Italian entrepreneurs that are duly registered in Italy or in the Russian Federation who perform or intend to conduct business in the Russian Federation can also join. In order to join the partnership, an application request must be filled, which will be considered by the Confindustria’s Board of Directors. If the applicant meets the specifications expressed in the Confindustria’s statute, the applicant pays a periodical sum, which varies according to the sales volume of the company it represents.

What are the most difficult and best things about doing business here in Russia?

Obviously, the dynamic nature of the constantly growing Russian market, the strategic geographic location of the country, plus its rich natural resources, all position Russia as a prime location for business investment. There is a wide range of opportunities present in many sectors of Russia’s economy and strong support for investors from both the government and the Foreign Investment Advisory Council (FIAC). Russia is a predominantly a collective society and generally displays a ‘win-win’ attitude, thus promoting mutual advantage in business. Personal relationships are also of great importance in Russia. International organisations can profit immensely from the above benefits of doing business in Russia. On the other hand, investors dislike uncertainty, and nowadays the politic political situation does not help or encourage business activities. We could say that a major part of the advantages could then be seen as disadvantages: a different culture, not a very user-friendly language and a massive territory are only a few of the several examples of the difficulties one may find in doing encounter while conducting business in Russia.

Confindustria Russia

Ernesto Ferlenghi President of Confindustria Russia (Association of

Italian business in Russia)

For further details about Confidustria Russia, please see our website:www.confindustriarussia.it

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Italian Community

ITALIAN

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Costante, how many years have you been in Russia?

Next February I will have been here for 22 years.

Have you been in business most of the time?

Yes, always.

What are the main differences between doing business in Russia and in Italy?

First of all, I have to mention the difference between what is happening now and the way it was 20 years ago when it was an absolutely different world. Now, it is still different, but globalisation is working, we can see now that the difference is not so big. We are an Italian Interior Design company, our clients have worked for many years with Italian companies, with furniture, textiles, marble and so on. This has given them a lot of experience, and now they know what are the correct procedures and so on. If there is a difference, it is because many clients still work with offshore

companies, and for us, an Italian company, this can create problems because every couple of years these offshore companies change.

How do you find Russian business people on a personal basis here?

Even now they are a bit naïve, strange as it may sound. I think it depends on the background of the individual. We have two different types of clients, the first being architects and designers. They are not really business people. They buy our furniture, or textiles and marble, but I cannot consider an architect a businessman because he already has a profession. So the kind of business we do with these people is quite different from the kind of business we do with the dealers, with the retailers. They are commercial guys, sometimes we have a big guy who started from nothing 10 or 15 years ago, and now own companies that have a turnover of 20, 30 even 50 million Euros a year. They experience what we might call growth problems because they don’t have a professional management team behind them. Managing a company when it was 5 people selling tiles is one thing, but now, when it is a big company employing 50, 60, or 80 people, sometimes they have difficulties managing it, because they don’t have a good management background.

Are people’s tastes in Russia moving on from the pseudo nouveau-riche phase?

Yes, we are about to completely redesign this show room, for

example. The market for this kind of design is almost completely saturated. The new potential clients are fairly young; they travel abroad, are exposed to a lot of different design tastes, they prefer let’s say classic design, but not this kind of Rococo style. They don’t like minimalism; they prefer classicism, but more simple. Let’s say the new style is: modern classic.

How long is it going to be before Russians can produce the things that you sell?

It is difficult to say, because just as there is Silicon Valley in America we have Tile Valley in Italy. 80% of Italian tile production is concentrated in a very small area. To produce a good tile, you need a lot of very good technology plus a lot of know how which is handed on from one generation to the next. So it is not only the technology that is involved, which is all Italian, it is having an area where all the relevant technology, skills and know-how, plus hundreds and hundreds of companies which produce tiles are present and work together. This is very hard to replicate.

Presumably you like it here in Russia? You get on with Russians?

First of all, I am very grateful to this country because it has given me a great professional opportunity. Of course I love it here, otherwise I would not have stayed.

Architectural Consultant at Arcos Interior, and a member of the Board of Confindustria Russia

Costante Marengo

Italian Community

ITALIAN

How long have you been living in Russia?

I have been living in Russia for three years. My husband works for a multinational company and we have been moving around the world according to his job. I must say Moscow has been by far one of the easiest expatriations. I immediately fell in love with the city and especially the fascinating culture.

I understand that you are the President of the Italian Women’s Club?

Yes, ASI, Associazione Signore Italiane a Mosca, was founded eight years ago by a few ladies within the Italian Embassy. Currently we are more than sixty members. Our association is open not only to Italians but also to anyone who loves Italy. The general meetings are usually held at the Italian Embassy three to four times a year and every month ASI publishes a newsletter ‘La Mosca Bianca’ available by email.

Our primary goal is to offer support and advise to newcomers by planning different activities like

welcome coffees, Russian history and literature lessons, cultural visits to museums and expositions as well as events that celebrate both Russian and the Italian culture.

ASI is famous for the organization of the Italian Christmas Bazar hosted at the Italian Embassy. All money that we raise is used to fund our charity projects as these have an important place amongst the association.

Mariolina Mariotti

President of the ASI Mosca, Italian Women’s Club Moscow

For further details about the Associazione Signore Italiane, please contact us by email: [email protected]: [email protected]: www.facebook.com/asi.mosca

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Italian Community

ITALIAN

Italian Community

ITALIAN

What does the club you have created do?

Club ITAM was founded in June 2008 to fulfil the need for an Italian networking group, which did not exist at the time. We periodically organise informal get-togethers, joint events with other business associations, thematic round-tables and seminars. Our network helps members to integrate, share experiences and information, and deal with common and less common issues.

Who do you help?

ITAM stands for ‘Italiani a Mosca’, therefore our natural audience is composed of Italian individuals and organisations based in the Russian capital. Nonetheless, we are open to any other people and organisations that have a concrete interest in Italy, Italian business and culture.

What is you own feeling about Russia and Russians?

Russia is a very welcoming country and a place full of opportunities for entrepreneurs and organisations alike, be it multinational corporations or independent SMEs, provided that they decide to commit to the market. Personally, I have dedicated all of my professional life to Russia, and have always been rewarded and satisfied by the outcome of such a choice.

I find that Russians are very similar to us Italians in terms of how they conduct business, apply flexibility, creativity and curiosity, and put interpersonal relations before everything else. This makes them easily approachable and fun to work with. Moreover, generally speaking, Russians adore our country and culture, and that makes it even easier.

What do you think the future holds?

We are going through complex times, and the foreign business community that resides here is strongly affected by decisions taken by politicians who are a long way away, and who evidently do not want to think too much about the damages inflicted to businesses and long-term investments. It will be tough for a while, maybe a couple of years, given a series of factors such as falling oil prices, rouble devaluation, high inflation and the difficulty for Russian banks and corporations to finance themselves abroad, which all add to the existing problems of an economy not diversified enough. We need to adapt to changing conditions and if possible be even closer to the market, increasing customer service, optimizing logistics, limiting our clients’ currency risk. There are lots of untapped niches in which we can prosper, we just need to switch into a more entrepreneurial mentality, figure out what the market really needs and focus on it.

Russia will reward those who do not fear, I am absolutely positive about that.

Club ITAM (‘Italiani a Mosca’)

Interview with Giovanni Stornante

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(Claudia Bianconi)

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Community

ITALIAN

Interview by John Harrison

Claudia Bianconi was born in Belgium, from Italian family, and has been an expat most of her life. Nikita, her latest literary self, appeared shortly after her arrival.

by Nikita, 2014

met Nikita, I mean Claudia in a café in Moscow in June, and was impressed by the way that she talked about Nikita.

Claudia explained… “Nikita is an international observer of the Russian culture and habits and life. Nikita tries to look at what is happening here without prejudice, showing

full respect; Nikita picks up on the differences that there are in this world. But instead of dwelling on the differences, she tries to find affinities with other cultures that she has been living in. So basically Nikita is trying to bring more tolerance and understanding between cultures.”

“Is Nikita an observer, or does she live here and have an opinion, after all, she has a Russian name?” I asked.

“Nikita has an opinion after all and this is usually showed in the Moral of the articles. Nikita was born in Moscow as a Russian pen name, but quickly became a character with its own personality, thoughts and beliefs. The articles show in a witty and humorous way the different timing of historical recurrences thus both Expat and Russian share the same interest and amusement in reading them.”

Nikita, alias Claudia Bianconi, lives in Moscow and writes about all things that happen in Moscow and with Russians. She writes in English, Russian and Italian. You can find her writings on: http://by-nikita.com

Here is what Nikita has been up to recently:

I had been in Moscow for just a few days, when I received an invitation for dinner at a Russian restaurant. A “Russian” restaurant? Why the need for clarification? It is uncommon to say I am having dinner at an “Italian” restaurant when I am in Rome.

The reason I learnt was that in Moscow there are, by tradition, countless restaurants from the countries of the former Soviet Union, such as Uzbeks, Georgians, Azerbaijanis, and so forth. How exciting. Sitting at the table I looked to my new acquaintances hoping upon hope that one of them would order for me, since I was facing a menu packed full of dishes written in Cyrillic – (I may be a quick learner but the two day Cyrillic course was beyond me).

I

Russian Cuisine: where East meets West

Nikita

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Community

The moral is: when no one was even thinking about it, Russian gastronomy had already created a sophisticated “fusion cuisine” due to the historical and geopolitical influences of the country, for its permeable culture and its multi-ethnicity; or even for its famous Belgian chef that gave rise to the Russian salad that everybody can play with at their will, just like a child presented with their first ever solid mush.

Who would have thought that Russian cuisine was so rich? The lady next to me noted my dismay and told me “As you can see, there are sup, (soups), such as Sci, made with cabbage and bits of meat, the Borsch, made from beetroot, the Ukha, with fish. Then there are different types of Russian salads”. Here my focus increased, and I thought, ‘isn’t the Russian salad

by definition a dish of your own choosing where you put everything and the opposite of everything, and blend into a mayonnaise?’ I discovered that at the base of the “Russian” Russian salads are always more or less the same vegetables, the key variable sitting in the type of meat or fish, which reminds me of an old English proverb – “you can never have too many salads.” Well, I actually made that up but I’m sure you agree it should be an old proverb. The most famous Russian salad is the Olivie’ which takes its name after Lucien Olivier, the acclaimed Belgian chef, who composed it in 1860 in Moscow. Maybe a similar thing happened to the Earl of Sandwich, that is, to name bits of bread after himself. Then there is the Mimosa, with salmon, and the Shuba, commonly called “herring under fur coat salad”, because of the grated beetroots that cover it all – obviously. The latter, in addition to the herring, presents ingredients such as potatoes and red beets, in short, a main classic dish of Swedish and German cuisine: the Heringssalat. Continuing west, we “return” to

Belgium where we visit Malmedy where Russian salad with herrings is consumed for carnival.

Malmedy, in the province of Liege, was an outpost of the Kingdom of Prussia, which was extended eastwards up to Königsberg (Kaliningrad), now Russian territory. My new friend suggested that I try the Pelmeni. When I saw the dish

that had been placed in front of me I thought I had ordered a bowl of Wonton, Chinese tortellini. In fact, Pelmeni find their roots in Siberia as a reworking of Wonton. Despite the mixed filling ofbeef and pork, I tentatively try them but it is not the memory of Chinese cuisine that emerges, but the flavor of the Germany’s monumental ravioli – the Maultauschen possibly due to the type of spices. Other variants of these dumplings, are Vareniki, of Ukrainian origin and Polish Pierogi. All of these are themselves cousins of the Manti, steamed ravioli, and not boiled in broth like the Pelmeni, which are found in Turkish, Kazakh, Nepalese, Tibetan, Uzbek, Chinese, Korean and Japanese cuisine. According to some theories the Manti may have origins in the Middle East and had reached East Asia via the Silk Road, and not vice versa. Maybe Marco Polo took a few with him during his legendary journey of the 14th Century? In Russia today, Italian machines are often used to produce these tortellini, cappelletti, ravioli, agnolotti, of Russian, Asian or Italian

origin. The lion’s share, however, is the incontournable, inescapable Smetana, which may be translated as sour cream. “Inescapable,” (or indispensable), because it seems to appear everywhere from appetizers to desserts. It is eaten with salad, especially tomatoes and cucumbers, with Borsch, with Pelmeni, with the Stroganoff, pieces of beef in a

sauce, with Blinis (pancakes) and Syrniki, fritter dessert with Tvorog, cottage cheese. The Smetana can be found, with different percentages of acidity, in other Central and Eastern Countries, across North Europe and in the United States. Russians have a certain propensity to drink. Indeed they drink a lot of tea, maybe even more than the English who are famed for it. The origin of Russian tea is possibly Chinese, seen that in Russia it is called chai and Chinese cha, but in India it is chai again and even in England it is known in slang as char. Amazing. Long before Nikita, the English language had caught these food “affinities” and found precisely generic terms such as dumpling, porridge, pancake, sour cream, cottage cheese but it is commonplace for all these dishes and products to be characterized by local variations that make them exquisitely and unequivocally Russian.Our dinner comes to an end; we have neglected many pages of the menu, many Pirozhki, Pirog, (pies), but I have many more days in Moscow ahead of me. I can pace myself.

Ambassador, you have been serving as Malaysia’s Ambassador to the Russian Federation for four years. What changes have you noticed in the Russian people over this period?

Four years is too short a time to notice major changes. But what we have noticed is that Russians are becoming more outward looking, more helpful, and more willing to interact with foreigners. The older generation is more cautious; in complete contrast to people under 35 who are very happy to converse with you. Non-Russian speakers find it wonderful that so many people want to speak in English.

What changes are there in the attitude of Russians to Malaysia? Are Russians aware of Malaysia and Malaysians?

I think that is a very salient question. As you know, Malaysia and Russia are thousands of miles away. We do not share a common border, history, language, and in the past we did not share the same political system. Not so with the UK, because we were under the British for hundreds of years, and we share the same kind of education and language. There are practically no Russian speakers in Malaysia. But I think that things are changing, in particular from 2002, when we started sending a lot of Malaysian students to Russia, and we see this

as being a very good move in the sense of increasing understanding between our countries. Currently we have 3,000 Malaysian students here; most of them are studying medicine. We have students in 5 major Russian cities: in Moscow, in St. Petersburg, in Nizhniy Novgorod, in Kursk and Volgograd.

How many Malaysian expats – people who come to Russia to earn money – are there in Russia at the moment?

We do not have an expat community here, but do have students. We are hoping that some of our students, when they have finished their studies, will find opportunities in Russia that will be attractive to them, and in this way contribute to increasing mutual understanding of the history and cultures of our two countries.

What are the main goods that are traded between Russia and Malaysia?

2013 bilateral trade came in at only $1.8 billion. Most of our imports form Russia are oil and gas related products, which include petrochemical fertilisers for agriculture. We are a major producer of palm oil, and rubber products, the production of which needs fertilisers. Malaysia exports a number of electronic goods to Russia, we also export a lot of

wooden furniture, palm oil, cocoa, plastic products and rubber based products.

Is Malaysia benefiting from the present situation, where Russia is turning away from goods from the EU due to sanctions?

We are always looking for markets for our products, but we do not see that the present situation has brought about a windfall for us in terms of replacing goods from the EU by Malaysian goods. We do not export a lot of food to Russia, with the exception of palm oil, however as palm oil is only exported from tropical countries, there is no noticeable change. We do not believe that there should be a lot of sanctions between countries. Most of us are members of the WTO, we believe that free and fair trade will promote the global economy.

Malaysia was one of the founding members of ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian nations). Has this been a good thing for Malaysia?

Yes, we definitely believe that ASEAN has been one of South East Asia’s major achievements, because stability and unity has been brought to the region, which is inhabited by about 650 million people. We are not involved in conflict, and if there are issues, which need to be resolved, we have done this

Dato’ Zainol Abidin Omar, Ambassador of Malaysia to the Russian Federation


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on a regional level. ASEAN has provided the political stage for economic development amongst countries that are at very different stages of development. We aim to establish what we call the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. This will establish a single market fully integrated into the global economy. ASEAN is developing, but there is still more scope for further development. For Malaysia, this is a very busy time because we will take over the ASEAN chairmanship in 2015 from Myanmar.

Are you trying to be like the EU?

We are learning from the lessons of the EU. What is good, we will surely try to implement, but we will take a good look at issues which are not accepted by everybody in the EU, such as a single monetary policy, before we implement such measures.

How does Malaysia see the appearance of the new BRICS Development Bank and the formation of a new world and political trade order?

Malaysia has always been requesting for a review of the IMF and the World Bank. In a

sense, we feel that some of these organisations’ current policies are lopsided. The world has changed from the time the Bretton Woods system was put into place. Things become very difficult if one does not adapt and change systems to reflect the current state of the world. If you look at the global scenario, you find that some of the BRICS countries are amongst the top 10 global economies. In this sense, the BRICS countries’ interest in trying to influence international finance markets is justified in order to take into consideration the present global scenario.

How do you see Russian-Malaysian relationships developing in the future?

As you know, Russia is the 6th largest economy in the world based on Purchasing Power Parities (PPP). So we see that being more involved with Russia is of tremendous mutual benefit. There is a lot of potential to increase trade and investment. Malaysian companies are also interested in investing in Russia. Russia is not currently investing much in South East Asia, and that is something we would like to change. Hopefully as we get to know each other better, we can work out which investment

methods are right and take this forward. There are a lot of things we would like to do with Russia, such as getting more Russians over for holidays. Russians don’t need a visa for the first 30 days in Malaysia now. Kuala Lumpur is a thriving city with vibrant shopping districts. At the same time, Russia is becoming more attractive to Malaysians; we are beginning to see Russia’s individuality in terms of architecture, culture. Russia has a lot to offer.

Do you personally like living in Russia?

Before we came here, my family was a little bit apprehensive about the harsh winter. We heard that the winter is gong to be very cold and harsh. Coming from a tropical country where 31 degrees is the normal temperature; we thought that we would be practically living in an ice box! But my family and I have managed to overcome our fear of the winter, and we all go out and enjoy the snow. We have found that Russia and the news about Russia are two different things. We see that Moscow is a very modern city where you can get practically anything, for a price. Four years have gone by quickly, so that means that we are enjoying our stay in Moscow.

“...Coming from a tropical country where 31 degrees is the normal temperature; we thought that we would be practically living in an ice box! But my family and I have managed to overcome our fear of the winter, and we all go out and enjoy the snow. We have found that Russia and the news about Russia are two different things.”

Diplomatic

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ith the vacation and dacha seasons over, winter in Moscow is, paradoxically, a time for new beginnings,

new activities, and new friends. Since the Dance Renaissance has been sweeping the globe for many years, I thought it was an excellent time to review the state of dance instruction in Moscow. What I found were very diverse and attractive offerings ranging from traditional dance instruction in all dance styles to lifestyle dance clubs and even a little bit of Buenos Aires.

Alexey Mindel is a co- founder with Olga Panchenko and is the General Director of two dance studios: GallaDance and D Fusion. GallaDance was the first lifestyle dance studio in Moscow when it was founded almost 13 years ago. As Alexey said, “My partner and I wanted to create not just a dance

studio but a dance lifestyle club, so we offered not just excellent dance instruction but also a club atmosphere with parties, and formal balls. As a club, we offer an all-inclusive membership, which provides unlimited access to scheduled group classes and a set number of private lessons. Our Express package costs between 23,500 and 19,900 roubles for three months depending on your preferred location.

“The club atmosphere typically attracts our older students, generally 35 or older, who have greater time flexibility, and therefore can attend our regularly scheduled afternoon and evening group classes. For example, our newcomer classes for beginning students are 6 days a week with alternating afternoon and evening classes. Newcomer classes include all the basic dances included in American Smooth, Latin

American and Caribbean dances, so one can practice everything from a fast Viennese Waltz to a hot Salsa. GallaDance has 5 clubs in Moscow, with convenient locations including on the Garden Ring, next to the Olympic stadium and the newest one near Moscow City.

“D-Fusion, our newer studio, is located at Novoslobodskaya Ulitsa 3., right across the road from the Novoslobodskaya Metro. We found that some of our customers, especially our younger customers, just wanted excellent teaching but weren’t as interested in the social activities. They also wanted a more traditional fee per lesson payment as opposed to GallaDance’s all-inclusive fee. A single group lesson, which can be reserved over our website, is 450 roubles per 45 minute lesson, and of course the individual lesson price drops accordingly when the student purchases multiple lessons at a time. The type of dance instruction also differs in that our younger students are more interested in social dances like Salsa, Rhumba, and even Hip-Hop and Pole Dancing! For example, we currently offer both Samba and Salsa lessons twice a week in the evenings.

“Our main focus is ensuring a good experience in a comfortable welcoming atmosphere. All of our students were beginners once, and we have novices walking in every day. Everyone is here to have fun, exercise and to feel perfectly comfortable dancing at a club or

Dance

Dance Classes in Moscow

Brian McCormack

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making a good impression at that next corporate dinner or social ball.”

Of course, dance instructors are critical and need to be able to be both a friend and a coach. They need to know when to push and when to laugh. As a student, I don’t want to be treated either like an inductee into the army or a fragile flower. Of course, as an expat living in Moscow with limited Russian Language skills, I was concerned that my dance instructions were going to be limited to basic Russian and lots of hand and foot gestures. Luckily for me, and other non-Russian speakers, Moscow does have excellent English speaking dance teachers.

Perfect examples are Alexey Eliseev and Julia Burenicheva of GallaDance. They both started

dancing young and have been teaching ballroom and social dancing for many years. Alexey’s first goal with new students is to get them to relax, listen to the music, feel the beat, and then gradually expand and perfect their dancing. As he said, “I can give you the tools and show you the door, but then it is up to the student to walk through.” Julia Burenicheva has a similar philosophy; she aims “to insure my students finish each lesson with a sense of accomplishment and a smile on their face.”

PLANETANGO takes a very different approach and the name is an adept description for this Argentine Tango studio, for it focuses strictly on all aspects of Argentina and Argentine Tango. Located in an interesting courtyard on Khokhlovskiy Pereulok near Kitai Gorod Metro Station, the studio has been going for 6 years, and has grown into a full-fledged lifestyle club though it charges the same sort of rates as a dance studio. Entering PLANETANGO immediately immerses one into Buenos Aires, leaving Moscow far behind. The music is all-pervasive and compelling, and the dancers very passionate.

Leading the novice or making the experienced Tango dancer better are instructors like Yanina Radzishevskaya and Sergei

Shpakovsky who have been teaching 2 years and 4 years respectfully. Their goals as teachers are to transfer the feeling of Tango, and enable the student to express their individuality, for Tango is similar to Jazz where improvisation is encouraged. Their goal is to enable the student to feel the music and respond while also communicating and creating with your partner. Along with these English-speaking Russians, the club also features native Argentinian dancers who rotate through monthly to assist the local instructors.

PLANETANGO offers the novice or experienced dancer, group or private lessons along with biweekly ‘La Practica’ where one practices ones’ moves while watched by instructors. The big events of the week are the biweekly ‘La Milonga’ where everyone can party and dance with different partners in a social setting. Experienced Tango dancers are welcome to the La Milorogoria for a small fee of 200 roubles to dance and soak up the atmosphere. Group lessons start at 600 roubles per individual or 3,700 roubles for 8 lessons, while couples pay 6,600 roubles for 8 lessons.

The diversity of dance instruction in Moscow was a welcome surprise, and as an aspiring Fred Astaire or maybe even Al Pacino in ‘Scent of a Woman’, this fall will find me once again in the dance studio and on the dance floor. I’m hoping this article will inspire some other expats to join me!

GallaDance www.galladance.ru

D-Fusion www.dfusion.ru

PLANETANGO www.planetango.ru

Dance

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Charity

TOCHILDREN WITH LOVEBy Claire Reilly

‘To Children with Love’ or ‘Детям с Любовью’ was founded in 2009 to focus on fundraising in Russia, in the belief that the best and the most sustainable initiatives should and can emerge locally. With a board composed of Moscow-based trustees, a celebrity patron and a growing base of corporate sponsors, the charity has, since 2009, worked hard to establish itself as a unique entity in the world of Russian children’s charities.

The mission of ‘To Children with Love’ is based on the belief that children

without parents in Russia should have the same rights and opportunities

as any other child. ‘To Children with Love’ works to build

trust, self-esteem, dignity, ability and confidence

in the children that they work with,

to enable

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Charity

(Editor) In the Summer 2014 issue of Moscow Expat Life, we printed an article ‘To Russia With Love’. This article was well received. ‘To Russia With Love’ has a sister charity called ‘To Children With Love’ based in Moscow, that is also engaged in extremely important work. Claire Reilly, one of the charity’s organisers, tells us about this worthy cause:

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them transition to a normal adult happy life. This involves 365-day a year support to the children, with full-time ‘To Children with Love’ staff based in orphanages to be there when the children need them most.

The very best of institutions, orphanages and large children’s homes are likely to harm children and leave them ill prepared for life in the outside world. Ideally, all of these institutions should be phased out as soon as possible by means of extended family support, fostering, the provision of small family units, and lastly, adoption. However, due to the enormous number of children still living in state care in Russia, the charity’s immediate goal is to secure a long-term stable

solution for each child, whilst working side by side with local administrations.

Working most prominently in Bryansk and Moscow, ‘To Children with Love’ staff have also started a range of other projects across Tula, Kaluga, Astrakhan, Orenburg, Smolensk, and Rostov regions, as well as Khabarovsk Krai and in the Republic of Bashkortostan. In every region in which they work, ‘To Children with Love’ has established relations with regional administrations that enable them to operate very closely with all of the children with which they work, in partnership with the state.

But this work is only possible thanks to sponsors, supporters and

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friends across Russia who enable them to continue their work. Not many small charities can be so lucky as to have Andrei Malakhov as their patron, nor corporations such as the Marriott Hotel group, the English Nursery School, KIA and Megafon. But even with all this support, the charity still needs to find new sponsors to keep up the level of care that the children they work with have become accustomed to. The one thing that these children need in their lives is a constant, supportive adult presence; someone that does not come in and out of their life causing more trauma and pain.

‘To Children with Love’ works with children and young adults aged 5-25. There are more boys than girls in institutions in this age range, as girls are deemed less risky to adopt or foster and often leave the system

in early years, much faster than their male counterparts. Boys also seem to adapt less well to the absence of a primary carer in early years development, and can often grow up with learning and developmental difficulties arising from that.

It is impossible to ask the question: ‘why did you end up in an orphanage?’ to a small boy of seven, explain where his mummy and daddy are or whether they will ever come to see him again. Statistics and experience tell us they never will. The heartbreak these children have already been through before children in families are able to tie their shoelaces is almost impossible to comprehend as we sit in our cosy flats with our comfortable lives. In order for these children to trust adults ever again the charity has a huge job to show them that adults are there for them, will not leave them and want to fully support them in their journey to adulthood.

‘To Children with Love’ runs a range of programmes that help to develop trust, self-esteem and self-confidence in all of the children that we work with. The charity’s work is specifically designed to take into account types of attachment disorders, and the goal is to give their children the chance to grow up as independent, happy and confident adults with the set of skills needed to succeed in life. We consider that children need love, attention and people to have faith and confidence in them. It’s not about buying a one-off expensive electrical gift on New Years Eve (as has become very fashionable amongst Moscow donors). This is about being there for them the other 364 days of the year as well. Listening to their daily concerns, hopes and fears, supporting them in times of success and failure, and giving them

the level of interaction needed to develop their interpersonal skills for life beyond the orphanage. The lives of orphaned children should not stop at the gates to the orphanage where they live and study. They need to feel that they are fully integrated members of society, and the programmes of the charity reflect that.

Since 2009, ‘To Children with Love’ has worked with nearly 2,000 children in ten regions of Russia. The full-time, hands on, all-encompassing approach that takes care of every aspect of personal development that the charity embodies, has been hugely successful to date. Children are supported to become whatever they want to be; by providing lessons in anything from cooking to driving, from supporting young mums when they give birth, to being there on their graduation day – the charity provides it all and wants to keep doing so.

‘To Children with Love’ relies solely on the donations and support of Russians, Russian and international companies and expats based in Russia to survive. Without financial support, they cannot continue the amazing work that they are doing to change the lives of so many of Russia’s forgotten about children.

Donors can see real impact from small donations; just 500 Euro can pay the monthly salary of a full-time support worker to be based in a regional institution to run additional educational and creative activities to complement state programmes. This one worker alone can support up to 100 children on a full-time basis and become a constant, loving and stable figure in children’s lives. 250 Euro can pay for one local social trip to a café or place of local interest for fifteen children. This will give them temporary respite from

the territory of the institution (where children are housed, schooled and fed seven days a week). Just 50 euro will pay for additional educational support for a month for a child struggling with reading or writing.

If you would like to sponsor one of these packages, make a donation speak to someone about corporate sponsorship, then please do contact Natalia Amey on +7 (985) 649 6921 or email [email protected]

‘To Russia with Love’ has recently published a new book called ‘The Children’s Stories’, a collection of personal stories of many of the children they have worked with from over the years. If you would like to purchase a copy of this book then please do get in touch on the number above.

Alternatively please do visit www.tochildrenwithlove.ru to get more information on the full range of work that the charity is engaged in.

“The very best of institutions, orphanages and large children’s homes are likely to harm children and leave them ill prepared for life in the outside world. Ideally, all of these institutions should be phased out as soon as possible by means of extended family support, fostering, the provision of small family units, and lastly, adoption. “

Please see our website: www.tochildrenwithlove.ru/en/

BIG CHANGE Charity

uslan slumped his teenaged shoulders forward; I winced. Emotion reddened his face.

“I was ten. My mother had been taken to the hospital. I

had no idea what was going to happen. They put me in a room with a big window. They put food through the slits in the walls. I could see everything that people were doing but no one could touch me or come in and talk to me.”

Sergei, his best friend and co-resident of a small orphanage explained, “your family is in crisis, and there you are, in a room alone.”

Apparently, that’s standard for children in Russia who are about to be placed in an orphanage – quarantine and evaluation first. More than 80,000 children are taken from their parents and placed in orphanages each year in Russia.

Sergey and Ruslan’s luck has now turned. They’ve been studying at Big Change, a Moscow charity that provides individualized education and training in life skills to teens and young adults who have lived for years in orphanages.

Big Change helps their students:

- prepare for vocational school or university- choose a vocation and find a job- broaden horizons, interests, relationships- become productive members of society- live full and independent lives.

R

“Irina Pavlovna (director of Big Change) told us over and over we could do it, we could pass the 9th grade exam. Then we started to believe it.”

“I first met them at a tea for students in English. Given their level of motivation and native intelligence, Sergei and Ruslan would have been at the top of my class for secondary school students where I teach. That they ever thought they wouldn’t be able to pass basic level state exams touched me.”

“Are you going to study management as well?” I ask Sergei

“Yes, together,” Sergei says. And he and Ruslan bump fists. “Without Big Change, we could only think about university, but that would be all.”

Sergei and Ruslan are about to take their 9th form exams. You can’t even get a job cleaning floors without passing it. To go to university in Russia, you must pass the 11th form exams.

Again, they are lucky. They are taking their 9th form exams at about the right age. Most students come to Big Change as young adults, after having grown too old for the orphanage. Some are unable to read, almost all unable to focus and study. Many haven’t taken their 9th form exams, because they were labelled when they were young as ‘unable to be educated’ and sent to sub-standard orphanage schools.

Big Change was founded in 2002 and has depended on a mix of state funding, donations from individuals as well as international corporations such as KPMG, EM Power, and DHL. As national priorities have changed, state funding has been slashed.

Next year, Big Change has enough staff, tutors and mentors to enrol 60 students, and provide classes of one to three students each, if we secure enough funding. Every student has a mentor and an individualized plan. It costs 10,000 roubles a month for each student for the whole school year. That’s 10,000 roubles to help each child attain his or her dream.

For more information and to consider donating, please go to http://bigchange.ru/en/about/. Or call Big Change at +7 - (499) 317-44-44.

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Charity

Judy Maurer

46

Moscow

Explored and tasted by Helen Borodina

‘All the best things happen to us unexpectedly’- reads the front of an elegant milk chocolate bar cover. I’m eating pieces of exclusive coriander-flavoured Russian chocolate from Dmitry Mateychik’s chocolate studio as I begin to write this article. The saying is true. Certainly, I am very pleased to have been invited to a presentation and chocolate tasting at the amazing chocolate museum at Mayakovskaya.

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f you live in Moscow, you probably find yourself in the Mayakovskaya area quite often. It’s highly possible, too, that

street called Pervaya Brestskaya (which runs parallel to Tverskaya Ulitsa) sounds familiar to you. And I’m certain that you’ve passed number 2 many times, without looking. But if you could slow down just a bit, you’d probably smell chocolate: that’s where The Museum of Russian Chocolate has made its home.

The museum, that opened in early January this, has a fascinating story. In 2005, Evgeny Trostentsov; a Russian businessman and his partners were setting up a bio and organic food shop in Rublevka (a name by no means unfamiliar to many you). When they saw chocolatiers making chocolate sculptures and candy before amazed visitors at a trade show, they thought it would be a wonderful to be able to show shoppers the same thing at their Rublevka supermarket. This is how Evgeny met Jaque, a Belgian chocolatier. The Belgians didn’t have a translator, and soon discovered that not too many people spoke English or French at the show they were participating in. Luckily, Evgeny’s daughter, whose name is Masha, is a fluent French speaker and she stepped in to help the Belgians with translation, and then was invited to come to Belgium where Jaque taught her how to make real chocolate. By that time, it was clear that for Evgeny, chocolate was becoming much more than just one of the many

food products for him to sell in his supermarket at Ruvlevka. A passionate collector of vintage and rare things, in 2008 he started hunting for old chocolate boxes and other things that would represent the history of chocolate in Russia. It was far from easy, until one day he bought a blue box, and examining it closer at home and reading about the brand on the internet, he realized that the very first item in his chocolate collection had arrived. Magically, other items started coming in, and in 2011 a chocolate exhibition opened in the building of the former Revolution Museum.

If you’re like me, I’m sure you’ve eaten, bought and even taken across the border tons of Russian chocolate, and you know all the famous covers ‘by sight’. One might think that chocolate in Russia is at its best at the moment. But, as Masha told me, today’s Russian chocolate culture is nothing like what it used to be before the revolution and then in the Soviet times.

People, she explains, come to the Chocolate museum to learn more about the history – not only of chocolate, but of the pre-revolutionary Russia and the Soviet Union.

Claire Coutin, a Frenchwoman, first came to Russia 15 years ago with her husband, who was relocated to Moscow as an expat, and children.

“Now I’m back in Moscow for a year”, she says, “I’m continuing my personal chocolate story working on various projects and participating in the development of the Museum of Russian chocolate.”

Claire’s chocolate story is quite fascinating. After studying agronomy, she specialised in cocoa and coffee production. She spent 2 years in tropical forest villages in the Ivory Coast, working with small cocoa farmers and conducting research on cocoa farming systems and commercialisation channels. She also lived and worked in famous cocoa producing countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba or Ghana, working on various agricultural projects aimed at enhancing the cocoa sector, as well as other tropical fruits production.

“I met Evgeny Trostentsov, the Director, through friends. He had many innovative projects to do with chocolate, and the Museum of Russian Chocolate History was one of them. I joined the company as Development Director. My role within the Museum is to give international exposure and contribute, as much as I can, to enriching and sharing our knowledge of cocoa and chocolate history”.

The museum sees its purpose in making known the amazing and untold Russian chocolate story, from the 19th century until today, and giving visitors a proper chocolate education. “I was surprised to learn about the many foreign entrepreneurs, Europeans and Americans, who established their chocolate companies in Russia during this period. The Chocolate sector was such a dynamic, innovative and competitive sector in Russia in the 19th century! Today, the Russian chocolate market is growing steadily, with new players coming along, motivated by consumers’ increasing interest for premium chocolate.”

Moscow

The Museum of Russian Chocolate Pervaya Bretskaya Ulitsa, Building 2, Stroenie 3.Go through the archway from Triumfalnaya Ploschad, walk north, and the museum is about 50 metres up on the right.www.chocandcacao.ru+7 495 233 8212

Everyone who comes to the museum gets not only to see an exciting exposition, but to see how chocolate is made, and to make their own chocolate figure to take home. The master classes work well with children.Come over any time from 11am to 7 pm (but not on Mondays!) and try this yourself!

I

The Story: Evgeny, Masha and the Belgians

Claire and the Chocolate Museum

46

THE HIGH-LOW

CONCEPT

hose who have mastered the art of eternal style know better than to rely solely on renowned brands to conceive envy-worthy ensembles. They know that although fashion is expensive, style is not. So, they use their honed fashion

sense to select the right pieces from high-end, low- end, and every price in between. They learned how to mix their high-end designer pieces with cheaper items to create immaculate voguish outfits that skimp on cost, but never on style.

This styling technique is known as the high-low concept and has been applied by personal stylists for years. It is their secret weapon to combat the ever-rising price of fashion, while delivering spotlight-worthy style to their clients. Even wealthy A-listers such as style icons Angelina Jolie and Beyoncé have adopted this trick of the trade.

But like all skills, high-low styling has to be applied correctly to attain the high level of dynamic novel elegance you sought. A mismatch will most likely result in a tragic faux pas whereas flawless execution stands testament to

your discriminating style and fashion prowess.

So here are two indispensable insider tips to help you mix and match your

way to an affordably stylish new you.

The first and most important rule is to consider each purchase carefully. Each buy should be viewed as a long-term investment into your “closet bank”. So, when you decide to splurge on an item it should promise longevity, inimitability, and most importantly, it should complement you--your body and your style.

It is for this reason master-mixers tend to restrict their fashion indulgences to wardrobe staples. These are the workhorses of your wardrobe; the items you just can’t live without. They not only deliver a high cost-per-wear ratio, but also, their classic appeal withstands the test of time.

Although these pieces may vary by fashion personality and lifestyle, some common investment buys are:

Fashion

T

Ria van Dijk | JULY 18, 2014

1. DEVELOP YOUR WARDROBE

Know When to Splurge

• Leather Bags & Shoes• Power Suits • Signature Jewelry & Sunglasses

• Cashmere Cardigans & Scarves• Formal Attire• Wool/Wool-blend Jackets & Overcoats

*and that rare piece, your once-in-a-lifetime find … so incredibly unique that is invaluable.

LOOK

STYLISH

AT EVERY

PRICE:

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Fashion

As an ardent fashion-forwarder, there are two main times when you should readily buy low-end; when you find an item of high quality and when you want to partake of the latest fad. It is important to always keep in mind the cost-per-wear ratio and do not let your penchant for bargains trick you into wasting funds. Even the cheapest item worn only once is more costly than an expensive item worn hundreds of times.

To spot great pieces at even better prices you have to learn to recognize quality. You have to develop a keen understanding of what makes high fashion so coveted. For example:

• Luxury Fabrics: Silks, Wools, Linens, Cottons …• Impeccable Craftsmanship: Proper fit, Flat seams,

Even hemlines …• Distinctive Designs: Interesting silhouettes, Refined

details, Elegant Prints …To find an assortment of bons plans you can always

browse the selection offered by the well-known fast-fashion retailers; the Zara’s and H & M’s of the fashion market. But a savvy shopper knows that there are many chic-for-cheap thrills to be found at flea markets, vintage stores, thrift stores, designer outlets, discount stores, and even designer sales at luxury retailers.

Even with your stock of fabulous finds there is still the matter of mixing them together to pull off a high-low creation successfully. A good rule of thumb to follow is to use one high-end item as the benchmark of your outfit, then pair it with complementing lower-end pieces. No piece should look inferior, but instead,

each piece should rise to the level of quality portrayed by your high-end investment. Together, all the pieces should create a harmonized fashion chorus.

Another helpful tip is to enhance the look and feel of your chic-for-cheap item. A more refined aesthetics can be achieved with a bit of professional tailoring or even simple alterations done with your own hands. For instance, it will take you but minutes to swap out those tawdry plastic buttons on your cotton blouse for more classy ones. And voilà, you’ve enhanced the look and increased the value tenfold.

Now that you have been enlightened, go ahead and make a bold fashion statement in your high-low creations. Pair your Gucci with Gap, your Prada with Promod, your Hermes with H&M. You will not only feel good because you look great, but also, your pragmatic approach to shopping will leave you with a peaceful state of mind.

Under $50 $$50-100 $$$100-250 $$$$250-500 $$$$$500-1000 $$$$$Over $1000 $$$$$$

Know When to Scrimp

Match It

Upgrade It

2. MASTER THE ART

50

Sport

By Sandra Slotboom

DTHE MOSCOW

Youth Soccer League

oes an idea of 600 children gathered together on one day seem rather terrifying to you? Does it create images of total panic and ultimate disobedience? That may be the case, but

Moscow Youth Soccer League found a way to manage this and organized the happiest League of the year. It is the place where children from all over the world come to play soccer and communicate with each other in the language of sports!

MYSL started 15 years ago, as an initiative of a few expatriate families who wanted to combine soccer

matches with socialization and entertainment. The result was the establishment of a non-commercial soccer League. At that time, there were just a couple of teams participating and the whole event was organized and sponsored by the parents of those participants.

MYSL has been growing ever since. The reason for its success is said to be its distinctiveness. “MYSL remains unique because of its atmosphere, organization, spirit of volunteers and truly international feel” – says Derk Sauer, one of the first participants of the League who became of big value to the progress of the project. “Kids look forward to our event every year. In a place where youth sports are so hard to find, MYSL plays a very important role!”

MYSL is held once a year in the weekends of September and October, in the centre of Moscow. One League exists of 10 playing days, including the finals and its ceremony. The main concept is derived from fun and

49

Sport

happiness, which is joined by an approximate number of 1,200 people, each playing day.

There are several motives for people to participate in the League. First of all: the joy of the children. Moscow Youth Soccer League is all about kids’ happiness without any competitive pressure. All kids between 3 and 15 years old are welcome to join in, despite their level of football skills. Registrants are split into teams and receive a full Nike football kit with the team logos on it. “There are not that many places where expat kids from all the international schools of Moscow can meet and do something together! MYSL is probably the only event that unites all of us!” – Says one of the parents.

Moscow Youth Soccer League is the highlight of the year. Not only for children, but for parents as well. While the kids are competing at the fields or having fun at the play spaces, their parents may have a drink with one another and potentially establish new connections. MYSL is the place where the business elite of Moscow meets and it’s truly the best way to meet new friends or business partners.

MYSL is a mixture of nationalities and cultures. Kids from all over the world play happily together. Seventy-

seven percent of the participants are expatriate, which causes English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Russian, Japanese and many other languages to be spoken at the fields. “To see the emotions and positivism of all these young kids is a great source of energy to us as organizers” – Says Andrei Joosten, head of the League.

The League offers even more than football matches. At the fields, children are able to stimulate their entrepreneurial skills, create sales experience, feel a

52

organises something amazing every weekend (sweet cotton, bouncy castles, clowns, games). In general our sponsors are very eager to provide presents for the kids!” – Says the representative of the MYSL organization committee.

MYSL is also trying some new competition formats. For spring 2015, the MYSL organizers are planning to start the Moscow Youth Champions League. This will be a big soccer tournament between international schools’ teams and independent teams. “It would be great to combine multiple youth Leagues, adding all kinds of sports, in a way that every one of them is about the fun and happiness of the children” – Finishes the head of the League.

Sport

sense of responsibility and receive the joy of giving by selling second hand shoes, bracelets, cookies, waffles, trains and more. The kids are absolutely excited about their sales.

MYSL values its non-commercial aspects and enables charities to raise money at the fields. The charities are selected on forehand and they all have a connection with the concept of the League. “We are working with such charities as MPC Social Services, cats and dogs shelters and are currently looking for organizations that raise money for children with Down syndrome. We are not only allowing fund raising at the fields, but we’re also donating our possible profits. It is important that such a project not only brings fun and pleasure to its participants, but is also supporting anti-racism, children’s hunger assistant programs and such.” – Ksenia Mershina, fundraiser of the League.

However, all of the services mentioned above cannot be realized without external help. ‘’Sponsors are very important as they are the ones financing the League, enabling us to create those happy moments. All of our sponsors are of high value and they are truly the ones adding value and joy to the spare times of the kids.’’ – adds Ksenia. “It’s a privilege to invite sponsors to the fields and to give them the opportunity to organize special activities for our players”.

PepsiCo, DeGolyer & MacNaughton, Beverly Hills Diner, Volvo and Singapore Airlines are among annual sponsors of the League. There are always new partners who want to get involved with family sports activities of expatriate communities. “Some of them are very active! For example, Kuehne + Nagel (logistics company)

To register for upcoming soccer seasons please, go to www.moscow-soccer.ru

Facts about MYSL:Ages: 3 to 15 y.o.Location: Stadium of Young Pioneers, Leningradsky prospect, 31, blg. 41. Dates: weekends of September-October/May Time: 09:00 – 19:00 depending on the age divisionRegistration fee: 6000 roubles (*uniforms included)Kids of all the levels of soccer experience are welcome!

51

Real Estate

What exactly is fit out?

Fit out is a term that is almost universally employed to mean the completion of an office space, which is leased on an incomplete basis. In Russia, most office spaces are leased at shell and core stage, which is basically when there are simply concrete slabs on the floors and ceilings, no heating or air conditioning, no internal walls, no electrical services, no low voltage wiring or switch work, or anything like that. So fit out means all the work that brings the office up to its final completed stage. The focus in the fit out industry here has been on offices, because the clients are generally corporations which generally speaking know what they want, and it is relatively easy to work with them. Residential fit out, especially high end, is also a significant but more difficult segment of the market, because the clients tend to be more picky, more temperamental, more likely to change their minds about the colours of the walls, the type of materials etc.

When did the fit out market start in Moscow?

As long as buildings have been built there has always been a fit out market, because they have always needed to be completed. In terms of the modern office market, I think it is more interesting to ask, when did the modern office market begin? In terms of how we think of modern offices in Russia, the categorisation into class A, B and C sectors; that started only in the early 1990s when the large international real estate agents began to work here. I’m thinking about companies like Stiles and Riabokobylko, then Cushman and Wakefield, Jones Lang LaSalle, CBRE and Noble Gibbons. They all brought international standards with them, and the market really took off.

In your estimation, how many companies are there working on the market. What sort of size are they?

There are too many companies working on the market frankly

speaking, for the amount of business that exists. If you look at the office fit out sector, it’s split into different sub sectors. You get the designers, the architects, the engineers, and you get a lot of international architects based here. There are also project management firms, which are another subsector of the fit out market. Project managers were and are almost universally foreign companies, and probably 90% of those were British. Now there’s a question: why were most project managers here British when we are in the Russian capital? I think partially the answer to that question is that we were in the right place at the right time, many of us started our companies at the same time, and partially because the Brits are known for having a sense of fair play I suppose.

Who are the major players on the market now, and why have they remained the major players now?

In the architectural sector, you have still got a lot of very strong foreign architects here: companies such as Aukett Swanke or TP Bennett, or foreign-led firms that established here, such as GDS. The architectural market is exposed to more local competition though, than many of the other sub-sectors. If you move to engineering and design, you will find that foreign companies dominate. Many of the people who created engineering design companies here which are dominant in this field, all worked for the giant of engineering design companies in the world, which is Ove Arup. Francois Raulier founded RBTT and he used to be the deputy director of Arup here, MEP Engineering, another British owned company, is owned by Adrian Salter a former employee of Arup, and so on.

In the fit out and construction sector, my own company has been the largest project management company by volume of work for three of the past four years, but

Mark Smith, Managing Director, Sunbury Heights GroupOn any night out with expats in Moscow, you are bound to meet somebody who is working in, or is involved with fit out, construction or project management. This sector has been, and most likely will continue to be, a place where professionals can really make a difference. In this interview, Mark Smith the Managing Director of the Sunbury Heights Group, tells us why expats do so well in this sector, and for those us who aren’t in the club; what exactly fit out and project management (PM) actually mean.

Interview by Kim Waddoup

there are other strong companies as well; there is a German company Drees and Sommer, other western companies such as Turner and Townsend and Mott McDonald and the foreign real estate agents which have all moved into project management as well. There are very few home-grown project management companies and we could all speculate on the reasons for that. The global leaders in PM such as Mace and E.C. Harris are here, but are not the leaders here. Local companies are the strongest within the general contractor sub section, however you still have a lot of foreign companies. The first foreign general contractor company with a real focus on fit-out was Mercury Construction. Mercury, a billion dollar Irish company, has large operations here and continues to be very successful. Then there are a host of Turkish companies; such as Altaca and Fudes, which do a relatively large amount of work here, and they are competing with a large number of local fit out companies led by Gint-M and KMT.

Let’s move on to the Moscow Construction and Fit Out Association. Did you found it?

I did, the Moscow Construction and Fit Out Association started on LinkedIn. It grew extremely quickly, to about a thousand members. Because of the obvious interest I got together a steering committee of prominent local industry players. Everybody had their own ideas about ways in which the Moscow fit out and construction market could be made more professional, and standards could be raised. Subsequent to that, the steering committee decided to form an official non-profit association here, which wasn’t easy to do. Now the association has about 2,500 members online. We organise events ranging from networking events which generally take place monthly, to debates on subjects of industry interest which take place once every two or three months, to

a large awards ceremony, the first of which was held in November (see pages 56-57 in this issue) to recognise excellence in our industry. There are many other initiatives, such as a rates table for architects and engineers that we are creating, so that there is some standard fee system which can be used by architects and engineers when they bid for projects. We are organising a standard form of contract, because the contractual form here is very fluid. Also, significantly, we are just about to produce a book called Guide To Fit Out, which will be published next year. This takes the client through the steps that they would go through if they are just about to expand and open a new office. It tells them what they need to do first, what the key risks are, how much can they expect to spend, all of these good points and many more. So the Moscow Construction and Fit Out Association really has got some momentum at the moment, and we have many of the industry’s leaders involved in it.

Statements that we make are listened to, we issue an annual database of projects on the market, where every single fit out project is listed, and which company worked on each one. This allows us to assess market leaders, and assess our own market penetration. It also allows us to extrapolate a lot of useful information, such as that no company has more than 10% of the market. It is quite sobering to compare this kind of fragmentation of the market with what is happening in London, where ISG alone have nearly 30% of the office fit-out market. One of the issues that I have been discussing with our members is why there has not been a process of consolidation here as the market has declined?

Is there a feeling of collaboration between members?

Yes, I think there is. The fit out and construction community

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Real Estate

55

Real Estate

understands that we are all dealing with the same problems. We are battling with a construction code which doesn’t stay static, and which is partially self-contradictory. It puts huge influence in the hands of the individual inspectors, which is an unusual thing. Of course we compete but at the end of the day, we understand that we are in the same market. We have one key competitor that I lunch with when one of us wins a tender, with the winner paying the bill. So we are fairly close, especially in the expat construction market.

How long have you been in Moscow, and what brought you here?

I’ve been in Moscow since 1987. I came here as a journalist, I was a stringer for the New Statesman magazine, after that I worked for TASS news agency for two years. Then I retrained in the United States and opened my own PM company. So I have been here most of my adult life. I still think Moscow is a tremendously exciting place to be. I think despite the current environment, it has huge potential. But it’s challenging, more challenging than many other developed markets and working day to day here gives you a level of adrenalin which is almost addictive, which is something you feel if you relocate to quieter cities.

What does your company Sunbury Heights do?

We are a company of professional project managers. We are international now, but I formed the company in Moscow about 16 years ago. The idea was that I would assist companies; primarily foreign companies then, to assist them manage the construction of their projects – whether it be a fit out, or a new building. Because we were one of the first few such companies, all British I have to say, that started out here, we rapidly

became one of the more dominant companies, and eventually became the dominant company in fit out. When we started most of our clients were foreign companies, they at least understood what project management was. Now most local companies understand that employing a project management company is a no-brainer, it will save money. Over the past four years we have done four projects on a non-fee basis, where we collect 50% of the savings that the company would have spent without our help, and we have made more money on those projects than we did from projects that we charge a fee from.

How do you see the market in the next 1-2 years and then the next 3-6 years?

I think the market over the next two years is going to be really tough. It is tough now, a lot of the smaller players are going to disappear. This is inevitable, as there isn’t enough work to sustain everybody. People ask me if this is wholly due to the Ukraine situation and that answer is not adequate. There are international trends that Russia is not immune from, and in general offices are becoming smaller. People are adopting the idea of mobile working far more, so they are reducing the size of their offices. Both these factors have had an effect of increasing the vacancy rate of class A office space in Moscow. Now, as we are speaking, about 20% of class A office space in Moscow lies vacant, and this is before the completion of Moscow City. But in 4-6 years I think the market will see an upturn, I am very confident about this market; it’s large and sophisticated, with an educated workforce and a fundamentally secure raw materials base. I think that companies that are here for the long term and focus on the market as it is, not how they would like it to be, will prevail.

here is not a great deal of good news to be found at the moment and even my (forced) optimism is starting

to evaporate under the harsh midday sun of economic and geopolitical reality. Even if the fundamentals for the commercial property market remain sound, at a certain point they become irrelevant and it is all about sentiment – that is very negative at the moment and may not be easy to turn around.

I sense that we are at something of a crossroads. The current course should (I hope) look very different to the Russian authorities in light of Brent at $82 / barrel, rising inflation, declining consumption and stagnating investment. No doubt the first of these is the biggest concern. Although Russia seems endowed with plentiful rainy day resources, a sustained period of oil prices below $90 per barrel will quickly have an effect (and that is seeming the more likely scenario). The changes felt in the medium term will be the most pernicious. A lower oil price and the indirect and direct effects of sanctions (negative sentiment, availability of debt, investment in future oil capacity) will negatively impact future production of oil and gas at a time when existing fields are maturing. This could combine with a diversification of supply in Western Europe due to the perceived unreliability of Russia as

an energy partner. In such a scenario Russia’s economy would be severely weakened, as it has not followed through on the reform agenda, which was advanced as part of the response to the global financial crisis. The country remains, therefore, overly reliant, some would say dangerously so, on oil and gas revenues.

Vision and strategic thinking is required in order to avoid this most negative of scenarios but decisions made in the next few weeks and months could determine the course of the Russian economy for the next decade or more. My assumption is twofold. Firstly that this fact is appreciated; and secondly that the long-term health of the Russian economy is considered important and not a distant second to the country’s perceived might (and this is mostly an internal perception). Hence my belief that there will be a softening of the brinkmanship and a return of Russia to its more natural economic path*. If, as and when that occurs then we will be looking back at the next 6 to 12 months as having been the golden time to have invested in Russia!

Russia’s strength is her unity of purpose, her political will and the lack of a need to build consensus. That gives her a considerable edge particularly vis-à-vis the EU. However her dependence on the oil price, lack of an diversified economy and

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Real Estate

Russia at the crossroads?

* Although it still should be acknowledged that a significant shift in thinking will be needed to diversify the Russian economy and to make it more structurally robustThe author writes a blog on Russia and Russian real estate, which can be found at his Linkedin page – this article forms one of a series of posts.

T

Tim Millard

Wella International Studio will open its doors in Wall Street Class A business centre in Moscow in spring 2015. The scheme’s developer is AVGUR ESTATE within the Masshtab Group of Companies. The leasing deal is closed by the global consultant JLL.

The studio will hold special educating programs in terms of

corporate professional service for stylists, receptionists and studios’ directors dealing with Wella branded portfolio.

The new Wella International Studio in Wall Street will be created in accordance with two other studios operating in London and New York. It will occupy a leasing area on the 2nd

floor where they will arrange equipped educating classes, a special podium made for model demonstrations as well as support premises.

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Real Estate

apparent lack of a longer term plan can quickly trump that strength. Russia seemingly loves zero sum games and should therefore consider this – when oil is above $100 per barrel (under current budgetary

circumstances) she can win just about any game she chooses to play. When the price is below $90 per barrel that calculation very quickly reverses.

That is an uncomfortable position to be in and really ought to

be sufficient reason to reform the economy – if for no other fact than this: the uncomfortable truth is that as things stand Russia’s strength is dependent on a factor almost completely outside of her control.

JLL voted Best Consultant in the Russian real estate market

The first World Cup 2018 stadium is assessed in Russia

Wella International Studio will open in Wall Street BC in Moscow

JLL, a professional services and investment management firm offering specialized real estate services across the globe, has been named best overall real estate consultant in Russia in the 10th annual global Real State Survey by the international finance magazine Euromoney.

The Euromoney magazine’s 10th annual Real Estate Survey canvassed the opinions of real estate advisors, developers, investment managers, corporate end-users and banks

worldwide. According to the survey’ results, JLL has been voted the best consultant in Great Britain, Turkey, Russia and other European countries. JLL also has been named the best consultancy in CEE.

Charles Boudet, Managing Director, JLL, Russia & CIS, commented: “It is a great honor for JLL to be recognized as the leading real estate agency in Russia. This award is a true recognition of our teamwork, and I would like to thank

the professional community for their votes. The Russian market today is uncertain. Nevertheless we, in JLL see this period as time to mobilize and search for new out-of-the-box solutions enabling our clients to keep showing outstanding results in the real estate arena.”

The international company JLL completed the BREEAM assessment process of the stadium for 45,000 seats in Samara which will host World Cup games in 2018. The building received a high rating of Good (47%) that is a very prominent result for a large scale project with total area of 153,200 sq m. The scheme’s general planner is GUP SO TerrNIIGrazhdanproekt; designer - PI Arena.

Ksenia Agapova, Head of Sustainability services at JLL, Russia & CIS, commented: “In terms of voluntary assessment schemes stadia are unique projects. They are very different from commercial buildings with routine operation regimes. Therefore stadia engineering systems have specific requirements concerning peak and minimum loads which influence projects’ ecological efficiency. Due to its difficulty and complexity the

first Russian stadium assessment represents a significant breakthrough in local green development. We hope that the result which our project team managed to achieve will be successfully implemented by the contractor and other project’s participants.”

Real Estate News

Projects up to 1000 sq. meters: Moscow Google Office Architects: OFFCONEngineers: IDAConstructor: ISGConsultant: Mott MacDonald

Projects from 1000-5000 sq. meters: Baker&McKenzie offices Architects: AM Sergey EstrinEngineers: EngexConstructor: Intercom Group

Projects over 5,000 sq. meters: Head offices of the Kaspersky LaboratoryArchitects: ABD architectsEngineers: RBTT ConsultantsConbstructor: Gint-MConsultant: Cushman & Wakefield

MCFO Professional of the Year Dennis Lobanov (OFFICEPROJECT)

We thank the Jury, sponsors and members on the short list!http://www.mcfo-awards.com/news

Moscow Construction and Fit Out Awards 2014

The following winners were announced at the MCFO awards on the 20th of November at GUM:

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Real Estate

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Real Estate

Business

How has the market changed over the past 10 years?

Walter van Dijk: “All the big foreign companies are already here, and inside these companies, a lot of higher and middle management positions are now being taken by

Russians, which was not how things were in the 1990’s. You see a lot of change going on, particularly amongst people who are looking to be recruited. There is now a huge difference between groups of people who grew up and were working in Soviet times, and those who grew up after the Soviet Union ended. You have the Soviet mind-set and the post-Soviet mind-set. Talking about that, it actually surprised me when I came here, as previously my views about Soviet times were very negative, because that is what I had seen on the news and in films, the queues, empty stores, old buildings and terrible cars. But a lot of young people here, maybe they romanticise things, aren’t negative at all about those days. I do see, however, that people who grew up in those times have a very different approach when it comes to work and attitudes. There was always a boss giving orders, there was always a person saying what needs to be done, whether work or social. People who were active then, lack the ability to be self-responsible now. There are exceptions though.”

Nick Rees: “From a candidate perspective, I don’t think it has changed much. There’s lots of noise about more loyalty being shown as careers are deemed more important, but this isn’t true. A recent survey that we did showed 53% of candidates would move for a 20% or more increase and 42% for a 10% rise. This compares with less than 15% in UK.

“The biggest change has been the amount of professionals hired as Contractors, or outstaffing as it’s

also known. The uncertainty in the market makes it hard to forecast future headcount so this really gives our clients a lot of flexibility, as well as offering the incentive of a Permanent position as a reward for great work.”

Luc Jones: “Although the number of experienced Russian candidates has increased tremendously over the past decade, for Russians, the market has continued to grow more quickly than people themselves have been developing and with Russia’s demographic time bomb, there is nevertheless a severe skills shortage in certain areas, such as in quality, pro-active sales professionals.”

What should foreign companies understand about Russia before they hire people?

Walter van Dijk: “One of the main problems I had working as a manager in Moscow when I arrived was attracting good, or at least suitable personnel, people who can work without being told what to do all the time. There were people who sat there and two months later I realised that they were not suitable, or there were people who would ask me every 5 minutes how to do this and how to find that. When I went out socialising with other foreigners, I found out that they were having the same kind of problems.

“Russia is a huge country. The scale of activities is usually way beyond what European companies at least, are capable of thinking of. I have seen successful Dutch companies coming to Russia. But they are used to working with farmers who own tiny

The HR market in Russia

The HR business in Russia has been growing steadily since the early 1990’s. There are a large number of companies on the market, some of the foreign owned. A few such companies have survived and flourished. In this article three HR experts; Walter van Dijk, managing partner at G-NIUS, Nick Rees country director of SThree Plc and Luc Jones a partner at Antal Russia discuss the past, present and future of the HR market in Russia.

Compiled by John Harrison

60

Luc Jones Nick Rees:

61

plots of land for farming, who are both very competent technically and fully in control. When they try to do sell to farmers here they did not realise that agricultural managers in Russia run massive holdings which own a lot of assets and employ a lot of people. The Russians are able to delegate responsibilities, because they can’t do everything themselves, so they are looking for motivated people who know how to delegate, and can work with top level people.”

Nick Rees: “Most local employees don’t interview like Western candidates. They won’t sing and dance and try to impress with emotion or desire, even for top sales jobs. Russian employees are far more structured and considerate of ‘false promises’ that are almost expected in the west. Another suggestion is to check references carefully, but not the ones listed on the CVs – we would always use our network to make a few calls and check that what has been promised is truly matches reality.

“From a client perspective, there is still the issue of finding the

right people, especially in technical positions. This is where agencies like ours earn our money as we’re technical specialists, not just an average generalist agency like others.”

Luc Jones: “Russians love to tell you how different Russia is, and yes it is, but it’s not that different (particularly companied to markets such as China, or Japan). The important thing to remember is that just because Russians look like us, it doesn’t mean that they behave in the same way. Westerners generally make decisions based on logic, whereas Russians tend to be much more emotional, which strikes foreigners are being rather irrational.

“This is important in the workplace as employees can quit on a whim, or accept a counter-offer even when they have a dream job offer in their hand. In the West, if we informed our boss that we are leaving the company, it’s highly unlikely that he/she would tempt you to stay by offering you more money (assuming that if he/she does, he/she will have a dozen people

coming to him/her the following week with the same request), but it is even less likely that someone would accept such an offer.”

Is the market still growing?

Walter van Dijk: “I see that it is still growing, we get more work than I used to. But I get signals that soon the market will be receding because there is something big going on. I get the idea that retail is not doing very well at the moment. We in the HR business will really know that something bad is going on when it becomes easier to get good candidates, but it is still quite difficult. People are still being offered twice the salary they were offered by one company to work in another. I don’t think the economy is exactly bubbling, but it is not slumping either.”

Nick Rees: “Certain markets are and certain markets aren’t. We specialise in Oil & Gas technical recruitment and this market is simply booming, despite some of the issues that are well documented in the media.”

Business

tarting with a clean sheet of paper what would you leave behind in terms of personal liabilities or commitments? Perhaps

you have mortgages or loans? These are the first obvious obligations which you would not wish to leave as a burden to your loved ones. Paying off any debts comes

first as this will be a great help to your family. Your spouse will incur expenses related to your funeral and other arrangements immediately after the event. After this it’s all about replacing your income. He or she will want to maintain a standard of living and that costs money. Making provision for children’s education is also important and the younger they are the more of a burden this will be on your surviving spouse or the guardians of your children should you both die at the same time. Most expats I meet

never found the time to organise a children’s education fee plan or even a pension

Before we go on to discuss other possible reasons just spend a few minutes thinking about what your family would really need if they were left without you. Some expats I meet just seem to pluck what appears to be a “grand” figure out of the air and go with it because they feel that sounds enough. If you are one of those think again.

The first question to ask yourself is ‘if you predeceased your spouse what

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Business

Do you need life insurance? Not everyone does. But more often than not, people have never given this question proper consideration. Here are some reasons why you should give it some serious thought. Life insurance is not necessarily a must for all expats. However, in order to be practical you need to evaluate if there is a real requirement for you as an individual or family. The trick here is to rationalise and think of the practical situation you would leave behind if you unexpectedly died.

Understanding Why You Should Consider Life Insurance

S

Brian Johnson

Questions to the author can be directed to PFS International

on +7 495 660 8887 or email to [email protected]

standard of living would you want he/she and any children that you may have to enjoy following your death?’ In Moscow even a local wife and a family are going to have difficulties living on what many believe is adequate. It is impossible to quantify because every person and his or her family has different standards.

So, instead of thinking that a one off payment of $1,000,000 or maybe £500,000 or whatever else you think of is sufficient, try to imagine what it would mean to you as an individual. Perhaps at your standard of living

you would need an average of say £60,000 per annum? If you felt that a family could survive on this then calculate a typical example. Let’s assume that growth and inflation are roughly the same. If the family needs to survive at £60,000 per year, for say 20 years that would make the minimum insurance level you need of £1,200,000. Wow, that is a big number and a lot more than you had perhaps imagined. Then if you have a mortgage as well that will add more to the requirement. For the grand figure of £500,000 the

family would be left with £25,000 per year. For the majority of families this would be insufficient. This is why you need to assess your own personal situation to get a grip on not whether you need life insurance but at what level.

There are a number of other reasons which add to the requirement and these are generally overlooked or even dismissed as being unimportant. However, they may make the situation much worse if ignored. So here are some major factors to consider:

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1. Debts

You would need to ensure that any debts you have will be repaid on your death or else you will leave heavy burdens on those you leave behind. Is this really what you want?

2. Family

As discussed above you need to calculate what you would leave behind in terms of commitments. These should be similar to commitments whilst you are alive with your family. Why would they have to reduce their standard of living? Sufficient funds for your children to finish whatever education arrangements you have put in place will be required. Then you need to consider family support for the remainder of the family for as long as may be necessary.

3. Business key person

If you have your own business or are a partner in a business you should consider the cost to the business of an unscheduled departure. The grim reaper does not give notice of visits and will usually strike at the most inappropriate time. The business would thus need financial assistance in continuing and making suitable arrangements after your departure.

4. Shareholder protection

If you are a key member of a company as a shareholder it is no use assuming that upon your untimely demise the other shareholders of the business would buy your shares from your beneficiaries. They may not wish to or may not have the means. Your family will not be able to live on share certificates. It may also be that the other shareholders would not actually wish your beneficiaries to be involved in the running of the business if you died. It is therefore essential that you address this matter with the other shareholders as soon as possible in order that you have a meaningful business succession plan.

5. Business loan protection

Again if you are an integral part of a business and you die when the company has an outstanding loan, the bank or financial institution may call the loan because they see difficulties for the continuation of the business. This would be disastrous for the organisation but if you had sufficient life insurance to cover the loan this could be avoided.

6. Inheritance tax (IHT) planning

Many expats have not planned for IHT. They suddenly realise the

burden they will leave and find that the only way to cover the cost is through a life insurance plan which will pay the tax man if they die in an untimely manner. This is sometimes just a temporary requirement whilst more permanent IHT management measures are put in place.

7. Pension death benefit

Whilst employed many expats have a death benefit through their employer. However, once they retire this ceases and can often leave a gap which has not been filled. It is thus important that you review your situation when you are approaching retirement to ensure that you have left adequate provision for any fringe benefits which may cease.

8. Spouse insurance

Sometimes scoffed at this is something to seriously consider. If you are the breadwinner and your spouse suddenly dies you may be faced with increased costs in caring for your children if you are to continue your career. Whilst this would not be the same insurance quantum required for yourself it may nevertheless be an essential if you think about it carefully.

These are a number of other essential reasons why you need to carefully consider whether you have sufficient life insurance. If you are wise you will have a look at this straight away to ensure you have sufficient

provision in place. A review is always a good thing to conduct.

Spon

sore

d te

xt

Business

WEALTH THROUGH PROPERTY

64

Brian Johnson

THE PHILOSOPHY

The philosophy at Lifestyle Property is to assist clients to create ‘Wealth through Property’. Property is an integral part of any portfolio and can generate substantial returns helping achieve financial targets.

As with all investments, it is essential that sound advice is sought from experts to make sure any decision made is right for you

Over the years, we’ve been able to assist many clients with the right property purchases, to achieve their financial objectives and lifestyle goals.

We source a range of suitable properties for

Investment, which can provide an income, capital growth, retirement fund or Lifestyle enhancement,

ABOUT US

The Lifestyle Property philosophy is quite simply to work on behalf of clients to enable them to achieve ‘Wealth through Property’ and become successful investors in international property. Property is without doubt an excellent investment but without the right help it can be stressful and time consuming. Lifestyle Property offers a personal service to all clients to remove these obstacles from property investment

and ensure that maximum returns are generated.

PROCESS

At Lifestyle Property all investments provide a 360˚ turnkey solution so that everything is taken care of for clients making the process as simple as possible. The role of any company is to source excellent opportunities for their clients and here this is ensured through an extensive due diligence procedure to make sure that all developments meet your investment objectives. We assist with the sourcing and appointment of a recognised letting agent

in the location of your property. This ensures a swift rental, assistance with the management, and eventual sale in the future - all managed from your home country.

PROPERTY SELECTION

We bring a continuous selection of the best property investments around the world and take advantage of global opportunities allowing you to build an efficient portfolio that maximises capital appreciation whilst also offering excellent rental yields We select only the best and focus more on quality than quantity.

If you are interested in creating Wealth through Property you need creative investment funding. With our “out of the box thinking” goals can be achieved in a manner that would not be generally available on the open market. An investment property is purchased to generate profit through capital gains and rental income.

While most investors have extra cash to spare, they do not normally have the cash needed to buy investment properties outright. This is where financing comes in.

Investment property financing comes in various forms. Mortgage funding is the general rule but asset backed funding can be obtained by leveraging against current wealth.

This category focuses on property in large cities across developed markets such as the UK, Australia, Europe and Asia. Properties can be in either primary or secondary markets which we categorise as low – medium risk in their quest to deliver capital appreciation and yield.

Property in this category is in developed or developing European & Asian countries with the emphasis being on holiday destinations for lifestyle enhancement. Whether it’s for personal usage, investment or both you can rest assured that all the boxes are ticked.

Property in this category is in either developed or developing economies. Catch the investment cycle early and benefit from huge capital appreciation on pre-development land and forestry plantations. Secure exit strategies are in place from day one.

PROPERTY CATEGORIES

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ALTERNATIVE & ECO

Lifestyle Property www.lfsproperty.com is a division of the Business class group www.businessclassgroup.com and a sister company to Platinum Financial Services 1905 Imperia Tower. Presnenskaya Naberezhnaya 6 Moscow International

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PROPERTY FINANCING – LIFESTYLE

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y family moved to Moscow about two years ago. Our daughter Christine had just turned 3 when we came. My husband works for an international company and as part of his compensation package the

company paid for our daughter’s kindergarten. We could have afforded to send our daughter to any kindergarten in Moscow, but we were lucky enough to find the ‘Children of the World’ International Preschool. We never regretted it.

There is not a big choice of kindergartens for foreigners in Moscow. Furthermore, I am from France and my husband is Spanish. We speak French at home. But we wanted Christine to learn English as our family travels a lot, and we realised that whilst we are in Moscow, she will need to go continue her education at an international school. For this we needed an English immersion kindergarten.

For me, coming from France, kindergartens are a mixture of école maternelle (early years of school) and crèche (nursery). I didn’t want a kindergarten with formal lessons for my child. I was relieved to see the age-related approach at ‘Children of the World’. Though they call their children ‘students’ here, the children still spend most of their time playing even though these are organised activities.

So how did it work?

I loved the place, it gave me the feeling ‘that’s what we need’ immediately. The teachers are from the UK, very professional and with a great love of children. All the staff is English speaking, very friendly and reliable. The children look happy and confident.

My daughter took time to get used to English immersion in action. In 3-4 months we noticed that her understanding became really good and we heard her playing in English with her dolls at home. By the end of the school year we were surprised to hear her addressing the teachers and chatting freely with her friends in English.

Yes, children are great sponges, are very resilient and will learn a language with no trouble at this age. Nevertheless, the teachers are great at ‘Children of the World’, they know how to use children’s curiosity to encourage learning. Children are always busy playing cheerfully, and doing things to help them develop. They learn songs, do crafts, play games, make cookies.

Another wonderful thing about this kindergarten is that they are always great at organising events for the children and their parents. That is something we really miss at Christine’s new school. Sometimes when I feel blue or Christine wants to remember the wonderful songs and dances she did in ‘Children of the World’, we give her a DVD with the winter concert, put it into the player and once again we have great time all together.

Teachers at Children of the World preschool say that up to 80% of their clients enrol because of recommendations by friends whose children attended the kindergarten. I can well believe it. I also recommend this kindergarten. Dear friends, ‘Children of the World’ is a wonderful kindergarten and it is worthy of your children. If you are looking for a kindergarten for your precious little ones, you can hardly find anything better in Moscow.

Children

of the World:

my experience

of an English immersion

kindergarten in Moscow.

If you are interested in Children of the World Int. Preschool you can obtain more information on the site www.children-of-the-world.com or by phone +7 963 976 2228.

M

66

By Véronique B., mother of Christine,

student of Children of the World Int.

Preschool from 2012-2014.

EducationSponsored text

my experience

of an English immersion

kindergarten in Moscow.

wo weeks ago, The International School of Moscow hosted an unusual flag for its International Week.

From the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, where the flag had flown on Women’s Day on March 8th, the flag started its tour of the world. The flag is adorned with

the names of over 10,000 women who have climbed to the top of Mount Kiliminjaro. The flag serves as the centrepiece of a project that goes beyond the usual boundaries to raise attention to support ’Everyone’s Right to Education’.

The Headmaster of the International School of Moscow, Mr. Paul Seedhouse, immediately

embraced the idea of displaying the flag at school and spreading the word, says Sonia Michon-Floc’hlay, former Public Relations Chair of the International Women’s Club of Moscow. Contacted by the Ladies Trekking Club who took up the challenge of finding the names of the 10.000 women to bring them to the roof of Africa on a flag on Womens’ Day and to raise attention and monies, Sonia immediately reached out to her friends at the IWC to collect names and talk about the idea of the ’Power of Women’ in order to literally climb mountains to support children. She then contacted The International School of Moscow, whose famous International Week has become synonymous with international educational support.

Thanks to the help of ISM, its staff, parents and students, ‘Everyone’s Right to Education’ has become even stronger and the educational project has taken on even greater meaning. Under the leadership of Paul Keach, ISM’s Head of Upper Campus, the students learnt about the work of the Ladies Trekking Club, the history of the flag and the future activities of the group.

The flag, which arrived from Dubai at the beginning of October, will soon continue its international journey, collecting more names on the way with the goal of again reaching the summit of Kilimanjaro with the names of 20,000 women on it on March 8th, 2015.

A group of women from the IWC have already decided to join the Ladies Trekking Club and take up the challenge of reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro on Women’s Day and fulfilling a dream.

Everyone has a Right to EducationIf you want to join this group, you can contact the Ladies Trekking Club at www.ladiestrekking.com. Information about The International School of Moscow can be found at www.internationalschool.ru. To help raise funds for the or-ganisation, you can buy the book ’Doers & Builders’: a great inspiration for us all to go ’The Extra Mile’ for ’Everyone’s Right to Education’.

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Education

67

s I walked down the road towards the International School Moscow’s main campus, a large

group of school children, playing all sorts of instruments walked, skipped and danced along playing instruments and singing. They were clearly having a really great time. Bystanders stopped and stared, but the children carried on regardless, led by ISM’s spirited head of music: James Langford. “Welcome

to our music festival”, one of the children said to me, before going back to playing her tom toms which she expertly carried and played all at the same time as smiling, singing and dancing. I followed the group to the junior school where groups of second year children, each with a different instrument, performed amazing pieces of modern music, led by music teacher Asta Hodgson who conducted the performance using sweeping arm movements.

This is ISMs third music marathon, and as been organised, led and motivated by the head of

music department, James Langford.

“My inspiration comes form the 80s

and 90s when I was at school, watching children appear on television”, said James. “My music teacher at school organised a similar event, when we had music for a whole day. With this

school growing as it has over the last four or five

years, the festival has become bigger and bigger. Every student becomes involved, every girl and boy has a chance to sing and

or play an instrument. This festival is for

everyone.” “Inside the school, academic

subjects are very important, there are a lot of students here who are aspiring to go to the world’s top universities, including Oxbridge. But this is a day when everyone can pull back from their exams and tests, and simply enjoy themselves. It raises self-esteem, especially amongst some of the teenagers who are not maybe having a very good time

academically. It’s very creative, it instils confidence. When they become adults, they might have A grades academically, but if they don’t understand and feel for the arts, they are not going to be well rounded people, whatever they do. Maybe a few of them will even become musicians.”

In the evening a full-scale music concert was held, attended by 200 people. The children composed their own song: ‘Let’s give them hope’ which was received with great enthusiasm.

Two years ago we raised 440,000 roubles for are two charities: ‘Diemas Dream’ in Moscow and the British charity, ‘BBC Children in Need’, which helps disadvantaged and disabled children in the UK. This year over 730,000 roubles was raised . Congratulations to all the staff and children at ISM!

The ISM Music Marathon

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Education

AJohn Harrison

What exactly is CELC Moscow?

CELC Moscow is a Creative Expat Learning Centre conveniently located in JD Studio, an old factory loft in the heart of Moscow. CELC is a platform that brings together those seeking to tap into their inner creative genius with professionals that can facilitate a metamorphoses through workshops, seminars, and courses in a number of creative fields such as photography, painting, makeup artistry, acting, and creative writing, to name a few. We run our programs in English, Arts workshops are also offered in Japanese.

Why an Expat Center?

As an expat of 19 years and a trailing spouse of 11 years, I personally can relate to expats who talk about stress. I am familiar with the mourning of a career irreversibly abandoned, hobbies left behind, the strains and pressures of parenthood and a smoldering discontent over dreams unrealized. I know what it is like to live in a culturally foreign environment with little or no local language knowledge. So when my spouse`s work brought us to Moscow last year, I surveyed Moscow as an expat. I realized that there is an opportunity to better our experiences of Moscow, our task is to bring out the potential that is just waiting there to be discovered.

I myself am the product of a creative search. I left the corporate world ten years ago. In this time, my family has been though five international moves and I have had three children, so naturally it has been an effort to re-create myself. In the last seven years, I’ve taken all the opportunities I could. I`ve learned several languages and gone to many workshops including: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Floral Arrangements, Cooking, Web Design, Makeup Application, and Writing.

Who are your teachers, instructors?

We are committed to sourcing talented and driven professionals who can teach in English, expats as well as English-speaking Russians. For instance in October we had Middle Eastern yogi/life coach over, November - an American writer. On the 10th of December 2014 we will hold a free seminar ‘Beauty over tea’ with the award-winning make up artist. Feel free to propose a course, a workshop or a seminar through our website.

How do I find out about your course schedules?

You can see our website www.celcmoscow.com for up-to-date schedules. Or you can alternatively subscribe to our e-mail alerts through the website for updates and news. DIY Home Arts workshops are up and running, an amazing course taught by a talented artist that is guaranteed to bring your inner Van Gogh to the surface. On Sunday, December 14 2014 we hold Children`s Christmas themed arts workshop. Register online to ensure a place. We have an photographic exhibition coming up: ‘The World Through the Eyes of Expats’ which will run until June 2015. We also host events for English-speaking audiences in our premises. We can offer all aspects of event management: space, English-speaking staff, photographers, makeup artists, decorators, etc. This summer we piloted a language concierge service – a Russian language assistance service - which was well received by English-speaking guests. If you have guests or relatives visiting you in Moscow, but are too busy to tend to their curiosity, our language concierge service might be a solution for you. For detailed information, check our website www.celcmoscow.com.

Find out more about what CELC offers on our website: www.celcmoscow.comBerezhkovskaya Naberezhnaya 20/section19, block 73. M. Kievskaya, MoscowTel. +7 985 3427444; e-mail: [email protected]

The life of an expat is not as easy and glamorous as it may sound. Many of us have made profound sacrifices to be here, whilst stress levels can reach off the scale. One way to counteract these sort of problems, is to reach inside and tap our own creative reserves. Sound crazy? It’s not, and there is a ‘Creative Expat Learning Centre’ (CELC) right here in downtown Moscow where you learn all about how to do this. The following is an interview is with the co-founder and Director of CELC Moscow, Natalia Timmerman Blotskaya.

REALISE YOUR POTENTIAL

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t is 1996 and Moscow appears to be booming, new hotels springing up, others completing

expensive refurbishments with clean rooms and expensive shops and restaurants. They are full of Western businessmen chasing the dream who are in turn serviced by lawyers, bankers and accountants, all of the accomplices needed to establish and run an international business in Russia. Beneath this veneer of normality Moscow was fast becoming a dangerous place though. The influx of foreign money had raised the stakes for many businesses, particularly those involving property, commodities and the State assets that had previously been privatized and evidently sold so cheaply. To get foreign money it was necessary to play by foreign rules but with the value of many ventures increasing rapidly, Russian partners were becoming increasingly suspicious that they were underselling, and increasingly frustrated that they were being outmaneuvered by the Westerners’ skilful use of their accomplices. According to the Press, local dispute resolution resulted in up to 200 contract killings per year, although fortunately this did not extend to foreigners, yet.

My own project was based upon an intergovernmental agreement ratified by the governments of Russia, Kazakhstan and Oman. Since ratification, we had grown the team to around twenty specialists. Despite the increasing numbers of hotels, quality office accommodation was still in relatively short supply and we were into our third year of renting space from the Americom Business Centre in the Radisson Slavyanskya hotel adjacent to Kievsky railway station. The hotel and office business was owned and operated by the Moscow

City Government, Radisson and Americom, the brainchild of Paul Tatum, an American entrepreneur and 10 year Moscow veteran. Outgoing, good looking – as my secretary Irina frequently reminded me, engaging, some would say disingenuous, one thing was certain; you couldn’t miss or ignore Paul. He was larger than life. We had been some of Americom’s earliest tenants and were situated on the 7th floor where Paul himself had his suite of offices. In fact he was now in my old office as we had swapped a year earlier due to our growth and the availability of space on his side of the corridor. I would see him most mornings invariably upbeat despite his worsening and evermore public dispute with City Hall and Radisson. Things hit a low later in the year and one morning I approached my office to be confronted by a swarm of TV cameras and reporters blocking the corridor. There was Paul in his now familiar bullet proof vest sleeves rolled up and sweat dripping from his brow as he drilled out the lock to my old door. The previous day the door had been sealed, as a result of a court request by City hall. Paul’s response: the publicity stunt to reclaim the territory and the launch of the Freedom Fund, a bond issue which would eventually raise over half a million dollars to enable him to meet the costs of pursuing arbitration in Stockholm. Publicity was important to Paul, he believed the bigger his profile the safer he would be.

We have all had our ‘Kennedy moment’. On November 3rd 1996, I was in a confrontational meeting with our engineering contractors and the local government in Krasnodar, it was late afternoon when I was called to the phone. It was Ira sobbing on the end of the line, she had seen him earlier in the day but now Paul was

dead. All she knew was that he had left the hotel and as he descended the stairs to the Kievsky metro he had been gunned down. I flew back that evening.

In the coming days details emerged in the press along with insensitive photos of Paul in the mortuary. He had been hit by eleven bullets to the neck and head, so much for the vest and publicity. A Kalashnikov in a sealed plastic bag had been dropped at the scene, no traces of the perpetrator. Eye witnesses said the killer had climbed into the back of a Lada which had sped away and was later found abandoned. A contract killing performed with ruthless efficiency which remains unsolved. Theories abounded and his disaffected partners in City Hall were suspected but charges were never bought. The ultimate method for dispute resolution was now being used on foreigners.

Outside of the staff canteen in the Radisson which business tenants could use, Paul’s picture was displayed adorned with a black ribbon and a message of condolence from the City Hall’s representative in the venture. What hypocrisy.

1996THOSE WERE THE DAYS MY FRIEND

Frederickovich

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Retro

The Association of European

Businesses,

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Moscow Expat Life

Interview with Dr Frank Schauff

You can find out more about the AEB at: www.aebrus.ru

What is the history of

the AEB?

The Association of European businesses was founded

in 1995, nearly 20 years ago now, which is already quite a long time for an association within the rather fluid Russian framework. When it was formed it was called the European Business Club, and I gather it was a more informal structure in those days. About 10 years ago, after a little bit of a crisis in the organisation, it was rebranded into the Association of European Businesses.

When were you appointed CEO?

In 2007.

What is the function of the AEB now in Russia?

At the end of 2013, about 50% of Russia’s foreign trade was with

European countries,

and over 50% of foreign

investment came from European sources, so the

AEB represents the strongest consolidated group of foreign investors in Russia. We represent a wide portfolio of sectors, including – naturally – the energy sector. All of Europe’s main energy businesses are members. We have strong banking and taxation committees, but perhaps the most visible committee is the car manufacturing committee, which is basically all the main foreign car manufacturers besides the Chinese; including American, Japanese and Korean manufacturers. New committees are being formed in line with the market. For example, we recently started a working group dedicated to heating systems, as we have a number of international companies that are active in this industry, and they have decided to come together under the aegis of the AEB to organise their lobbying activities with regards to legislative regulations and other issues.

Our main activities are lobbying the interests of our members to the various departments of the Russian government, which we work in close cooperation with. We are constantly writing letters

to the government about various issues on behalf of our members, and high-ranking government officials attend our meetings, which is something we appreciate, as we are thus able to convey the position of western manufacturers to the Russian government. Good recent examples are the talks given by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Head of the RF Federal Antimonopoly Service Igor Artemiev, and the Presidential Commissioner for Entrepreneurs’ Rights Protection Boris Titov.

How do the committees work?

We have about 40 committees working inside the Association, half of them are organised in a horizontal way that go across sectors. The committees are formed on the basis of common interests between players with other given industries.

The core function of the committees is lobbying. We invite governmental representatives, when it is appropriate, to discuss issues of concern with the relevant company or group of companies. Networking is also on going, not usually organised by the committees, but by the organisation as a whole. We hold various networking events in five star hotels, which are attended by hundreds of people, depending on the event. Three or four times a year, we organise receptions at various

The Association of European Business (AEB) is probably the best-organised business association we have, and organises interesting high-level meetings on a regular basis that many of us rely on as a source of essential information. In this interview, Dr Frank Schauff, the AEB’s CEO briefly describes the Association’s history, function and the importance of Europe and Europeans in Russia.


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embassies called ‘EuroReceptions’. Recent receptions were held in the Polish or the German embassies.

How many companies now are involved with AEB?

At the end of 2013, we had 615 members. These are mostly large, European corporations, and we will remain at this level this year.

Do you have a tiered membership programme?

There is a differentiation between larger and smaller companies, regarding the membership fees. Numerous benefits of the AEB membership include: work and visa permits due to agreements between the Association of European Businesses and the Federal Migration Service of Russia, lobbying, interaction with Russian officials and ministries, participation in AEB events including high profile events as EuroReceptions, marketing opportunities, networking, provision of quality information, obtaining special rates for employees’ voluntary medical insurance in the framework of the VMI Program, participation in the AEB Training Programs as well as an opportunity to participate in tenders to conduct corporate trainings.

Can individuals join the AEB?

Yes, if they are entrepreneurs. We are a business association. I do

not want to be offensive, but John Harrison as a person cannot join, neither could I, as an individual.

Looking into the future, how do you see the AEB working in Russia?

I think that the activities of an organisation like the AEB could be become more important in difficult times. There is a heightened need to exchange views and information, and there is also a real need in regard to protection against what is happening internationally; specifically between what is happening between Russia and the European Union. We have seen some European companies joining which were not previously members. This shows that the structure of the AEB, as we also saw during the crisis of 2008 and 2009 is even more valuable in difficult times.

In your opinion are Europeans still needed and valued in Russia?

First of all I would like to point out that the majority of Russians have no doubt that Russia is a European country. Russia has a European culture, and ethnically speaking, most Russians are Europeans, and therefore the orientation towards Europe is a strong one, and will remain so.

Therefore I think that in general terms, Europeans are welcome here even though relations between Russia and Europe are perhaps not so easy at the moment. Eventually we all have to find a way to get along in a peaceful manner; therefore I think Europeans and European companies will stay important here in Russia.

How long have you been living in Moscow?

I have been living here since 2007. I visited the Soviet Union for the first time in 1987, when I went on a short tour of the country. I was a student in the State University of Volgograd in 1990/1991 on an exchange programme with the university of Cologne. Then in the mid 1990s, I lived in Moscow because I needed to have access to Russian archives to work on my Ph.D thesis. So I managed to get to know Moscow, and also St. Petersburg quite well. Then I worked in politics in Germany, before coming to work here.

How do you feel personally about Moscow, Muscovites and the whole Russian mind set?

Moscow is an interesting and dynamic city, but it is not an easy city in terms of its dimensions and traffic problems. Muscovites as in many major cities are sometimes a little bit rough, but I lived in Berlin before, so I am used to this.

t is an obvious understatement to say that 2014 has been a very tough year for the economy and business in Russia. As winter approaches the pace of growth has slowed to a trickle with only the modest boost to domestic manufacturing from

the weak rouble and the continuing high spending on defence equipment preventing a slide into recession. A technical recession in the fourth quarter or the first quarter of 2015 is, however, still very likely.

2014 has also been a very tough year for expats working in Russia, especially those paid in roubles. The value of the rouble has fallen by one-third against the US dollar and by one-fifth against the euro since the start of this year and that follows a 10 per cent decline against both in 2013. With a movement like that the relatively low domestic income tax rate is largely irrelevant. As at the start of November it is a tough call to say that the rouble is near a support level. That primarily depends on where oil trades, on what happens to sanctions and also on how the Central Bank (CBR) responds to the decline.

2015, in economic terms, is starting to look similar to an expat’s second winter in Russia; the first was a novelty and had something of an exciting unpredictability about it. By the time the second winter comes around you know exactly what to expect and it will be miserably long. Unfortunately the economic outlook for 2015 looks no better than has been the case in 2014.

Inflation will rise further this winter and interest rates will remain high until the CBR is convinced that the peak in inflation has passed. This may happen sometime next spring. State budget spending will depend on oil revenue and, if that remains as low as is the case today, on a willingness to delay non-essential spending such as in the defence sector. And then there is the sanctions question. There is a wide spread of growth projections for next year from minus 1.0 per cent to plus 1.5 per cent with the key difference being the assumption on

whether sanctions, especially those blocking access to western debt markets, get worse or start to get better from the spring. At this stage most optimism is reserved for a recovery in 2016 and a return to meaningful growth in 2017. To be clear, while I expect a tough winter and spring in the economy, I am firmly in the optimist’s camp for 2016.

But apart from one’s rouble earnings buying less during the trip back home or on vacation, not to mention the very high double-digit inflation rate on imported goods, expats also have the perception issue to deal with. It is a cliché to say that truth, or facts, are the first victims in any war. By any measure, 2014 has been an extraordinary year for propaganda both for and against Russia. If one only looks at Russia TV the message is that sanctions have back-fired spectacularly against the EU and are actually providing a much needed boost to the local economy. If one only reads some western publications, including much of the mainstream, the message is that the Russian economy has already slipped over the edge of the abyss and Soviet-era queues are inevitable this winter.

As always, the truth is somewhat obscured in the middle. So what are the myths which have been propagated and what are the, probable, realities?

Sanctions make Russia stronger. In theory that has some basis of truth for some sectors of the economy but only if sufficient investment is applied in an efficient manner and only after several years. Agriculture and food production is one obvious area where Russia could be more self-sufficient and undoubtedly this is one reason why the retaliatory actions have come in this sector. But after two decades of low investment and a loss of the skilled workforce, improvements to domestic production will take years. The same applies, only much more so, to the technology sectors and across much of the country’s manufacturing base.

Russia faces a 1998 style default. No it does not. Sovereign external debt to GDP is only 3 per cent and total Russian external debt is only about 33 per cent of GDP. For sure there are many companies queuing for access to the country’s sovereign wealth funds and other state resources and using the money this way will hurt other recovery options. But to suggest that a default is possible one would have to assume a series of events, which would crash other economies long before Russia defaulted.

Myths and Realities in the Russian Market

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Chris Weafer

The rouble will collapse. It has already collapsed by one quarter against a basket of dollars and Euros so far in 2014 and that followed a 10 per cent loss in 2013. At the current level the rouble is pricing in $80 per barrel oil, financial market sanctions remaining for twelve months, and then some. In financial terms the currency is weaker than it should be given the combination of factors, which usually influence the exchange rate. The one unpredictable factor is sentiment and that has been made worse by the fact that the CBR is firmly sticking with the plan for a free float in early 2015 but meantime is still setting currency trading bands. That latter tactic simply tempts traders to play poker against the CBR. When the free float happens, and assuming the oil price stays at least at $80 per barrel and sanctions get no worse, then the rouble should strengthen rather than collapse further.

Weak oil will destroy Russia. Here again some observers are too quick to equate the current situation with what happened in 2008. A collapse in the oil price from mid-2008 directly led to the destruction of $200 billion of financial reserves and a near 8 per cent collapse in the economy in 2009. The big difference this time is that the CBR has allowed the rouble to take the hit and that has both protected the budget and created an indirect stimulus for manufacturers. Of course that has not been enough to prevent the sharp slowdown in the economy and it doesn’t, in singularity, create a recovery catalyst. But it does mean that the state has spending options coming into 2015 and the economy can sustain either very modest growth or confine any decline to less than 1 per cent. $80 average oil, based on current spending plans, plus today’s rouble exchange rate would mean a 2.5 per cent budget deficit in 2015. This is hardly a default scenario.

When sanctions end the economy will return to normal. Yes and no. Yes the economy will return to the problems which were starkly evident in late 2013 and which will be more difficult to redress because of the events of 2014. No it does not mean that Russia can return to the 4 per cent annual growth it needs to sustain long term if the economy is to expand and diversify. Recall that growth in 2013 ended at only 1.3 per cent instead of the 3.5 per cent expected at the start of the year. Russia needs a new long-term growth driver and that can only come from an increase in foreign investment and the continued participation

of experienced western companies. The so-called Asia-pivot can only add to diversification but cannot be a substitute for western partnerships. Despite the current rhetoric, that is a fact, which appears to be well understood in government.

There are many other myths and realities which are beyond the scope of this note. Some are beyond the current political and sanctions noise. For example, the dire predictions of a huge decline in the country’s population have already been proven false but Russia still has a serious workforce demographic and pensions deficit problem to be addressed.

All expats know that while winters are regularly tough in Russia they do eventually give way to spring and summer. By the time you get to the start of a third winter you learn to buy a thicker coat.

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Hotel RodnikiTel +7 495 212 1232

email: [email protected]

Travel

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Hotel RodnikiKim Waddoup

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Travel

have been often asked to visit and write about luxury hotels around the world and have generally become highly critical of the abuse of

the word ‘luxury’. To make a claim to be a luxury property is one thing, but to be able to provide luxury through and through is something else! So often one is sold ‘luxury’ and therefore the expectations start higher but so often the reality does not live up to the expectations.

However my recent visit to the Hotel Rodniki was quite the opposite. I had no idea what to expect and arrival at night in the middle of the first snowfall of the winter hardly prepared me for the wonderful surprises ahead.

The Hotel Rodniki is a luxury boutique hotel comprising of just 6 luxury cottages, the reception building and the restaurant/bar located in a massive parkland on 7 hectares. Moscow architects Atrium Bureau created the project design, ensuring an amazing adaptation to suit the unspoilt rural landscape. There is so much space between the cottages and they are so designed that you hardly see another person.

The interior design by highly talented Russian interior designers, Mikhail & Dmitry Ganevich, is modern, spacious and welcoming. Clever use of natural stone and wood has created a wonderful blend

of traditional and new. The smallest ‘rooms’ are the one-bedroom deluxe suites with a whopping 155 sq. meters of space each. The main room is vast, featuring large windows facing the forest, an open fireplace with stone chimney, dining table and lounge area. There is a tea/coffee kitchen with coffee machine, sink and large well stocked mini bar. The beautiful wood shingle wall reveals a secret of a hidden high tech TV that emerges at the touch of a button. All window blinds are also fully automated.

The sumptuous bedroom is large and bright, yet cosy with panoramic windows, large walk in closet and a beautifully appointed bathroom.

So quite normal? No! Attention to even the smallest detail is what makes the Hotel Rodniki so special. All materials are of the highest standard, 600 weave Egyptian cotton sheets, soft voluminous towels, Chopard bathroom amenities have been carefully selected to provide full support to a truly luxury product.

The hotel is located approx. 80 kilometres from Moscow. If you don’t travel on a Friday evening the journey time is around two hours. The hotel cottages are located in a large forested plot ensuring privacy and extreme quiet. There is a very comfortable restaurant and bar that ideally suits this countryside setting. Service is friendly and efficient and there is an English

menu. Rodniki provides a relaxed and informal dining experience with well prepared favourites made from very fresh ingredients. The dining experience is complemented by an extensive wine list with many excellent wines at most reasonable prices.

Breakfast can be taken in the restaurant but a short call to room service brings all that you require to the comfort of the table in your suite. A wonderful start to the day with fresh products, a roaring fire and views out on to the snow covered forest.

The Hotel Rodniki is perfect if you need to get out of the stress of Moscow for a weekend. There is nothing to do other than relax, eat and drink! This is not actually quite true, as there is a small spa, small fitness room and a charming sauna cottage that features a Japanese bath outside and Finnish sauna. You can also order your massage in this cottage.

Each of the 6 cottages comprises of a one-bedroom suite and a 2-bed duplex. The two units can be combined by renting the entire villa making a total of 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and sofa beds for an additional 4 people. Ideal for large families, birthday celebrations and even corporate retreats.

It is not cheap but you really receive the comfort and quality that should be associated with a true luxury hotel.

I

Food Quality: 9.5Quality and suitability of the drinks: 9.6Service Standards: 8.8General rating of the meal: 9.4

The members ratings were as follows:-

Restaurant Scandinavia

ith all the changes and new openings in Moscow becoming quite bewildering, the Moscow Good Food Club were delighted to be invited to one of our long term favourites for our September gathering.

Scandinavia Restaurant has been at the leading edge of service and quality since it’s opening way back in 1995 and many long-term expats can regale stories of the wild days. However the past is the past and we are back in the present as and the gallant members of the MGFC made their way to Scandinavia eagerly awaiting the magical culinary skills of Jonas Grip who had promised us an extra special Scandinavian autumn menu. Little did we know what was in store for us!

A Kir Royale proved to be an excellent opener and the conversation immediately flowed fulfilling the traditions of the club, Good Food, Good Wine and Great Company.

Soon we were called to our tables and the feast commenced. We were presented with a bowl of a half dozen Crayfish that had been perfectly boiled with beer and dill and accompanied by other Scandinavian specialities of Boxholm spice cheese and home made

crisp bread. We imbibed on the traditional drinks for this dish, Gold of Lapland Beer and Aalborg Jubileums Aquavit from Denmark.

Executive Chef, Jonas Grip said a few words of welcome and then proceeded to show the eager members how to properly eat the crayfish. So with this instruction in our minds we attacked the succulent Crayfish and enjoyed the spicy Boxholm cheese. Fortunately all traditions were recognised and with the assistance of another Swedish member, Jonas led us in the Swedish song that has to be sung at such a meal.

With the carnage of the first course removed we were served with a superb crayfish soup, served with an amazingly flavourful slice of cress and spinach pie. In observance of Scandinavian traditions this was accompanied by an Amontillado Jerez elegante medium sherry.

It should be noted at this time that the service in Scandinavia was flawless, the girls, many of whom have been with the restaurant for more than 10 years are quiet, unassuming yet amazingly efficient, friendly and professional.

The main course was a triumph for Jonas. Roast Pheasant with a Calvados creame sauce, apples, cep mushrooms and a delightful potato galette. The succulent pheasant

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was complemented by the light, creamy calvados sauce. The wine pairing was excellent and the Chateau Gaillard Grand Cru 2007 Saint Emillion had the exact attributes to bring out the full, autumnal flavours.

Following to the main course we were offered a short reprieve whilst the dessert was prepared. When it appeared it was a work of art of cloudberries and parfait flavoured with Swedish Punch accompanied by a crisp Baron de Vitrac 2008 Sauternes finishing the excellent variations of the Scandinavian autumnal menu. Full and highly satisfied it was time for the member’s comments.

Each of the delegated spokes-people for the tables took it in turn to provide their ‘critiques’. All were unanimous in their delight of the meal and the accompanying wines with great praise for Jonas and his team. There were some minor comments, which every Chef actually likes to hear as a way to learn tastes and to improve.

In the meantime teas and coffee had been served and yet another alcoholic flavour to be enjoyed as we were all offered a Drambuie to round off a truly excellent meal.

As is customary, our guests were asked for their comments on our topic of the evening. As sanctions had been recently introduced the questions was relevant: We are living amid a major political ‘situation’. Has this had any effect on your daily life in any way? If so please advise. Have you noticed any effect from the sanctions? Any products that you can’t find now?

Due to alcohol consumption some of the comments had to be deleted but generally the feeling was that life had not changed that much. Some specialised products, especially dairy, were not available at the time, however short supplies of other vegetables now seem to have been addressed on subsequent shopping excursions.

So Scandinavia and Jonas Grip proved that an old friend is a good friend! An excellent meal in cosy surroundings as good as any that we have enjoyed for many years.

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Swedish hospitality and Scandinavian quality in the prime centre of Moscow since 1995.

he Orange Tree is the latest offering from Maison Dellos next to their famous brands Turandot and the ever-popular Café Pushkin. So an offer from the management to invite the Moscow Good Food Club was eagerly accepted.

The Orange Tree has a comfortable, contemporary style, relaxed yet smart! On arrival the indomitable members were offered a very pleasant glass of Prosecco Rugeri and the first course of Forrest Tapas were served whilst we congregated and met old friend and new acquaintances. The Forest Tapas consisted of a trio of Duck, Deer and Lamb presenting an interesting challenge to pick out the flavours in turn. This was followed by an amazing celeriac mouse, which created a wonderful blend of autumnal flavours.

It should be noted that the Executive Chef Sauli Kemppainan from Finland is already making quite a name for himself for his provocative and yet highly original flavours, garnered from his native land.

Having been called to our tables we were presented with ‘Kikta’ It sounded delicious: Smoked Vendance fish, Romano salad, radish, pickled red onion and croutons with a dill dressing, but unfortunately the general opinion was that the balance of flavours did not work. It was fresh and the flavours were there, but the overall presentation and taste left most slightly disappointed. The Luigi di Bosco Chardonnay was possibly the reason as the pairing just did not complement each other.

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Food Quality: 7.75Quality/Suitability of the drinks: 7.10The service standards: 7.75The general rating of the meal: 7.25

The members ratings were as follows:-

The Orange Tree

T

The Farmers Duck roasted and served with mashed potatoes, red cabbage satay and red current sauce on the other hand was excellent. Succulent roasted duck, generally perfectly cooked, evoked our taste buds awoken by the excellent combination. The wine, a Luigi di Bosco Malbec was a little too light for the strong duck flavour, and lacked strength and tannins.

The Chocolate-Tabak dessert with fresh raspberries and raspberry sorbet was a masterpiece, excellently balanced and presented. This was accompanies by a Xeres Pedro Ximenez an excellent and unusual sherry that perfectly suited the tart flavours of the fruit and sorbet.

Over tea and coffee the table spokespeople presented their Critiques and ratings. Generally positive, however there was a feeling that some factors could be improved, especially the service standards.

As always, members were asked for some comments on the question of the evening which was: “The Winter is virtually upon us. What preparations do you make physically and mentally to prepare for the cold winter months ahead?”

Naturally the robust wines had an effect on the answers on our intrepid members but the general opinions were to plan to travel and enjoy the expectations of that vacation, to dig out the warm clothing and to make a preventative visit to the pharmacy in addition to eating, drinking and making merry!

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Business Insights

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Moscow now offers so many wonderful restaurants and great bars. Our aim is to provide you with Moscow’s most extensive listings of Restau-rants and Bars. In this issue it is an A-Z format Also Available on: –

Our wonderful researchers continue to work hard to produce this list, however if your restaurant/bar is not listed, please contact us, and you will be in the next issue.

Moscow’s Bars, Clubs, Cafés and Restaurants

1001 night31 kor.1, Bratislavskaya ul.M. MaryinoCuisine: European, Azerbaijan, $

11/1 Burger Bar15/2, Lubyansky ProezdM. Kitay-gorodCuisine: American, $$

192010/2 str.2b,NikolskayaM. LubyankaCuisine: American, $

3 Rooms84/32 kor.1, Profsoyuznaya St.M. KaluzhskayaCuisine: European, Italian, Japanese, $$

7 sisters 18/1 Olimpiyskiy pr. (Hotel Renessans)M. Prospekt MiraCuisine: European, $

A. F. Koni9/1 Novaya Basmannaya St.M. Krasnye VorotaCuisine: Russian, European, $$

A.V.E.N.U.E.8 km of Rublyovo-Uspenskoye Shosse,Barvikha Luxury VillageM. MolodyozhnayaCuisine: French, Italian, Japanese, Russian, $$$$

Academia Cafe & Pizzeria2/1, Kamergersky PereulokM. PushkinskayaCuisine: Italian, $$

AcademyBuilding 2, 23 1st Shchipkovskii Per.M. DobryninskayaCuisine: Caucasian, European, Japanese, Seafood, $$

Accenti7, Kropotkinsky per.M. Park KulturyCuisine: Author’s cuisine, Italian, Japanese, $$$

Acienda39 Vavilova St.M. Leninsky ProspektCuisine: Brazilian, Spanish, Cuban, Latin American, Mexican, Portuguese, $$$

Africa10, 2nd Vladimirskaya St.M. PerovoCuisine: African, Georgian, Mediterranean, $$

Ahtuba1a Nijegorodskaya St.M. RimskayaCuisine: European, Italian, $

Aiko24 Frunzenskaya Nab. (Embankment)M. Park KulturyCuisine: European, Japanese, Seafood, $$$

Aist8/1, Malaya BronnayaM. PushkinskayaCuisine: European, Italian, Russian, $$$

Akademicheskiy1 Donskaya St.M. OktyabrskayaCuisine: European, Japanese, $$

Alazani11/15 Volochaevskaya St.M. RimskayaCuisine: European, Georgian, $$

Alenky Tsvetochek6/5 Kostyakova St.M. DmitrovskayaCuisine: Jewish, European, $$

All-Time Bar7/5 bld.2, Bolshaya DmitrovkaM. TeatralnayaCuisine: European, $$$

AllegroBuilding 8, 52 Kosmodamianskaya Nab.M. PaveletskayaCuisine: European, French, $$$

Aloha Bar38 bld.1, Myasnitskaya M. Chistye PrudyCuisine: European, $$

Alrosa4, 1st Kazachii Per.M. TretyakovskayaCuisine: European, Seafood, Vegetarian, $$

Alter EgoProfsoyuznaya St. 152/2M. Tyoply StanCuisine: Caucasian, European, Russian, $$

American Bar and Grill14, KirovogradskayaM. YuzhnayaCuisine: American, $$

American Bar and Grill2 bld.1, 1st Tverskaya-YamskayaM. MayakovskayaCuisine: American, $$

Amigo Migel47 Leningradskiy prospektM. AeroportCuisine: Mexican, American, $$

Amstel 2, Kievskiy vokzal square (Evropeyskiy)M. KiyevskayaCuisine: European, $

Amsterdam4, Ilinka M. Kitay-gorodCuisine: Dutch, European, $$$

Ananas (Pineapple)11 Generala Beloborodova St.M. TushinskayaCuisine: Jewish, $$

AnderSon74 bld.8, Leningradsky ProspectM. SokolCuisine: European, Confectionery, $$

Andiamo 10 N.MaslovkaM. SavyolovskayaCuisine: European, Italian, Japanese, $

AndreasKutuzovsky Prospekt 12M. KutuzovskayaCuisine: Italian, $$$$

AnfiladaOlympic Ave, 16, M. Prospekt MiraCuisine: European, Russian,Mixed, $$$

Angello60-letiya Oktyabrya Prospekt 3M. Leninsky ProspektCuisine: Mediterranean, Japanese, European, Italian, $$$

ANT-2524 Rusakovskaya St.(Holiday Inn Moscow Sokolniki ,25 floor)M. SokolnikiCuisine: European, Russian, $$$

AozoraLeninsky Pr 38M. Leninsky ProspektCuisine: Japanese, $$$

Apartment12/6 Savvinskiy Bol. perM. KiyevskayaCuisine: European, Italian, $$$

Apple Bar & Restaurant11 Malaya Dmitrovka (Hotel Golden Apple)M. PushkinskayaCuisine: European, Russian, Japanese, $$$

Apropos2 Frolov Per.M. Chistye PrudyCuisine: Italian, Mediterranean, European, $$$

Aquarelle36 Krasnaya Presnya St.M. BarrikadnayaCuisine: European, $

Ararat Park Hyatt4 Neglinnaya ul., Ararat Park Khayat Moskva Hotel, 10th floorM. TeatralnayaCuisine: Caucasian, European, $$$

Arbat12 Plotnikov Per.M. SmolenskayaCuisine: Beer Restaurants, European, Russian, $$

Argo19 Melnikova St.M. Volgogradsky ProspektCuisine: Caucasian, European, Georgian, Russian, $$

Argument cafe 41, Kutuzovsky ProspektM. KutuzovskayaCuisine: European, Russian, $$

Aristocrat 6 bld.2, Lokomotivny ProezdM. Petrovsko-RazumovskayaCuisine: Armenian, Georgian, Caucasian, Mexican, European, $$

Arkhitektor 20 M. Nikitskaya St.M. BarrikadnayaCuisine: European, Russian, Seafood, Vegetarian, $$$

Art-Cafe Etre2/14, Lopukhinsky PereulokM. KropotkinskayaCuisine: European, $

Artefact11 Konstantina Fedina St.M. ShcholkovskayaCuisine: European, Italian, Japanese, $

Artist Gallery19, Prechistenka StreetM. KropotkinskayaCuisine: French, Fusion, Italian, Japanese, $$$

Artplay11 bld.34, Timura FrunzeM. Park KulturyCuisine: European, $

Art’s Palace3, bld.4 Uspensky PereulokM. PushkinskayaCuisine: Armenian, Azeri, European, Fusion, Georgian, Russian, Seafood, $$$

Aruba4 Narodnaya St.M. TaganskayaCuisine: Cuban, Spanish, $$$

Asakhi118 Prospekt MiraM. AlexeyevskayaCuisine: Japanese, $$

AST-Mayak25/1 Bolshaya Filevskaya StreetM. BagrationovskayaCuisine: Azeri, European, Russian, $

Asteroid10 Krylatskaya St.M. MolodyozhnayaCuisine: European, Japanese, Russian, $$

Astoria57, Trifonovskaya streetM. Prospekt MiraCuisine: European, Russian, $

At Pirosmani’s4, Novodevichiy proezdM. SportivnayaCuisine: Georgian, $$$

Would you like to have your restaurant/bar featured in one of our future issues? Please contact us for details [email protected]

AROMASS INDIAN RESTAURANT Krizhizanovskovo 20/30M. ProfsoyuznayaCuisine: Indian, $ www.aromass.ru+7 499 125 6276“The most authentic and best Indian food in Moscow. Delivery service also available”


Business Insights

83

Atlantic2/1 Kutuzovskii ProspektM. KiyevskayaCuisine: European, Russian, $$

Aurora Yacht ClubMoskovksaya oblast, 6th KM from MKAD on Dmitrovskii ShosseM. Rechnoi VokzalCuisine: European, Mediterranean, Seafood, $$$

Avocado12/2 Chistoprudny boulevardM. TurgenevskayaCuisine: Vegetarian, European, Indian, Mexican, Japanese, $$

AzonKorpus 1, 28 Narodnogo Opolcheniya St.M. OktyabrskayaCuisine: European, $

B-527 Litovskii BulvarM. YasenevoCuisine: European, Italian, Russian, $$$

B-6969 Vavilova St.M. ProfsoyuznayaCuisine: Seafood, $$

B28/1 Bolshaya SadovayaM. MayakovskayaCuisine: European, Japanese, Russian, Seafood, $$$

Baan Thai11, Bolshaya DorogomilovskayaM. KiyevskayaCuisine: Thai, $$

Baba Marta8 Gogolevskiy bulvarM. KropotkinskayaCuisine: Bulgarian, $$

Bagrationi1/7 Spartakovskaya pl.M. BaumanskayaCuisine: Caucasian, European, Georgian, $$$

Balcon8 Novinskiy bulvar Lotte plazaM. SmolenskayaCuisine: European, Italian, Japaneese, $$$$

Baltschug1 Balchug, Hotel Baltschug Kempinski MoscowM. NovokuznetskayaCuisine: European, Russian, $$$

Bamboo BarPresnenskaya Naberezhnaya 8M. VystavochnayaCuisine: Asian, Japanese, Chineese, $$$$

Bank1/15 Kotelnicheskaya EmbankmentM. Kitay-gorodCuisine: European, $$

Bar 192010/2, NikolskayaM. LubyankaCuisine: European, Russian, $$

Barashka20/1, PetrovkaM. TrubnayaCuisine: Azerbaijani, $$$

Barbados5, Bolshoy Putinkovsky pereulokM. TverskayaCuisine: European, Indian, Spanish, Thai, $

Barbontempi8a str.1 Nikitskiy bul.M. ArbatskayaCuisine: Italian, $$

Barista Bar47 bld.2, Leningradskiy ProspectM. AeroportCuisine: Italian, $$

Baron Munchausen11 Mikluho-MaklayM. Yugo-ZapadnayaCuisine: European, Georgian, $$$

Barracuda Tavern24/27 Sadovaya-KudrinskayaM. BarrikadnayaCuisine: European, Seafood, $$

Barry White1/2 Glubokiy per.M. KrasnopresnenskayaCuisine: European, $$

Bavarius21/10, Komsomolskiy ProspektM. FrunzenskayaCuisine: German Beer Restaurants, $$$

BeaversUlitsa Lyublinskaya 171M. MaryinoCuisine: European, $$

Bed Cafe6 Presnenskay Val. bldg.2M. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: European, Japaneese, $$$

Beef Bar13 Prechistinskaya Naberezhnaya, bld. 1M. KropotkinskayaCuisine: European, $$$

Beef Reef20, Malaya DmitrovkaM. MayakovskayaCuisine: Steakhouse, $$$

Beeftro26, Tsvetnoi BoulevardM. Tsvetnoy BulvarCuisine: American, $

Beer & Loga23 Autumn Avenue (Osenniy bulvar) Bisness Center M. KrylatskoyeCuisine: Beer Restaurants, European, German, Japaneese, $$

Beer House2/12 Kozitsky Maly pereulokM. PushkinskayaCuisine: Austrian, German, $$

Bellagio8 MosfilmovskayaM. KiyevskayaCuisine: Italian, $$$$

Beloe solnce pustyni29, NeglinnayaM. TrubnayaCuisine: Azerbaijiani, Chinese, Uzbek, $$$

Beloye Solntse Pustyni29 Neglinnaya Ul.M. Tsvetnoy BulvarCuisine: Arabic, Uzbek, Chineese, $$$

Bericony11 bld.6, VolxonkaM. KropotkinskayaCuisine: Georgian, European, $$$

Beverly Hills Diner1, SretenkaM. TurgenevskayaCuisine: American, $$

Beverly Hills Diner10, NikolskayaM. LubyankaCuisine: American, $$

Beverly Hills DinerWhite Gardens Business Centre, Lesnaya 9M. BelorusskayaCuisine: American, $$

Big Buffalo Bar & GrillSushchevskaya St., 19/7M. MendeleyevskayaCuisine: American, $$

Blackberry cafe10, Akademika Sakharova ProspectM. TurgenevskayaCuisine: European, Asian, $$

Bo 6/1 str.1, Sretenskiy bul.M. TurgenevskayaCuisine: Italian, Corean, Russian, $$

Bobby Dazzler7/13 Kostiansky pereulokM. TurgenevskayaCuisine: Beer Restaurants, European, $$

Bocconcino7, Strastnoi BulvarM. PushkinskayaCuisine: Italian, Tuscany, $$$

Bochka2, 1905 GodaM. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: Beer Restaurants, European, $$$

Bolshoi 3/6 bld.2, PetrovkaM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: French, Russian, $$$$

Bon4/4 bld.1, Yakimanskaya NabereznayaM. PolyankaCuisine: International, $$$

Bontempi bar8A bld.1, Nikitsky BoulevardM. ArbatskayaCuisine: Italian, $$

Bontempi Restaurant12 bld.1, Bersenevskaya Nabereznaya M. KropotkinskayaCuisine: Italian, $$$

Booze PubPotapovsky Per 5M. Chistye PrudyCuisine: International, $$

Bora Bora cafe 14/3 Orehoviy bul.M. DomodedovskayaCuisine: Italian, Japanese, $

Bora-Bora Grill 1 Semyonovskaya squareM. SemyonovskayaCuisine: Italian, European, $$

Bosco Bar19, Novy Arbat St.M. ArbatskayaCuisine: European, $

Bosco Café3, Red SquareM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: Italian, $$$

Bosfor47/23 Stary Arbat St. (Old Arbat St.)M. SmolenskayaCuisine: Turkish, $$

Boston Seafood & Bar7 Lesnaya UlM. BelorusskayaCuisine: Fish, $$

BottleBar.ru2 Pyatnitskiy per.M. NovokuznetskayaCuisine: European, Thai, Asian, $

Bouillabaisse37, Leninskyi bulvarM. Leninsky ProspektCuisine: Seafood, $$$

Bread and wine27, Bolshaya PolyankaM. PolyankaCuisine: Italian , Russian, $$

Brussels10/12 TimiryazevskayaM. DmitrovskayaCuisine: Belgian, $$$

Bublik24, Tverskoi BoulevardM. PushkinskayaCuisine: European, Italian, Ñonfectionery, $

Cafe Loft25 Nikolskaya, shopping center “Nautilus,” 6th floorM. LubyankaCuisine: European, French, $$$

Cafe Manon2, 1905 Goda M. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: European, Asian, $$$

Cafe Margarita28, Malaya BronnayaM. PushkinskayaCuisine: Russian, $$

Cafe Pushkin 26a, Tverskoi BulvarM. PushkinskayaCuisine: Russian, $$$$

Cafe Swiss25/6 Kosmodamianskaya nab.M. PaveletskayaCuisine: Rusian, Swiss, $

Cantinetta Antinori20, Denezhny PereulokM. SmolenskayaCuisine: Italian, tuscan, $$$$

Capri7 Academika SakharovaM. SukharevskayaCuisine: European, Mediterranean, $$$$

Carabas18, Lva Tolstogo M. Park KulturyCuisine: French, $$$

Caribe cafe club18/18 Pokrovka St.M. Chistye PrudyCuisine: Mexican, Brazilian, European, Italian, Cuban, Latin American, $$

Casa AgaveBolshoy Cherkasskiy Per.17M. LubyankaCuisine: Mexican , $$

Casa di Famiglia7/18 Metallurgov St.M. PerovoCuisine: Italian, $$

Castle Grill Bar4 Komsomolskiy Pr.M. Park KulturyCuisine: European, Russian, $$

CDL Club & Restaurant50, PovarskayaM. BarrikadnayaCuisine: Russian, Italian, $$$$

Chaika7, MarksistskayaM. MarksistskayaCuisine: French, Georgian, International, Italian, Mediterranean, $$$$

Chaikhona ¹14 Lodochnaya St.M. TushinskayaCuisine: European, Japanese, Mediterranean, $$

Chalet7á Elektrolitny proezdM. NagornayaCuisine: European, French, Italian, Swiss, $$

Chateau de Fleurs 29 bld.3, Lomonosovsky ProspektM. UniversitetCuisine: European, $$$$

Che10/2, Nikolskaya M. LubyankaCuisine: Latin American, $$

ChekhonteIntercontinental HotelM. PushkinskayaCuisine: Fusion, $$$

Chemodan Gogol Boulevard, Bldg 25, M. KropotkinskayaCuisine: Russian, $$$

Cherdak7, Kuznetsky MostM. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: European, $$

ChesterfieldBuilding 1, 19 Novy Arbat St.M. ArbatskayaCuisine: American, European, $$$


CHEKHONTE22, TverskayaM. TverskayaCuisine: European, Russian, $$$$ “Casual but elegant restaurant offering an entertaining gastronomic experience”

Moscow Good Food

Club

84


China Club 21, KrasinaM. MayakovskayaCuisine: Author, Pan-Asian, $$$

China Town25/12 Lubyanka ProezdM. Kitay-gorodCuisine: Chinese, Seafood, Vegetarian, $$$

Chito Grito11 Trubnikovsky pereulokM. ArbatskayaCuisine: Geogian, $$

Cicila2g Minskaya M. Park PobedyCuisine: Georgian, $$$

Cipollino7 Soimonovskiy prospekt, building 1M. KropotkinskayaCuisine: European, $$$$

Correa’s32 Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Ul., M. BarrikadnayaCuisine: American, $$

Correa’s32, Bolshaya GruzniskayaM. BarrikadnayaCuisine: Italian, $$

Courschevel7, Kuznetsky MostM. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: Panasian, French, $$$$

CourvoisierMalaya Sukharevskaya Sq. Bldg.8M. SukharevskayaCuisine: European, $$$

Coyote Ugly6/3 bld.3, Kuznetskiy Most M. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: Coctails, $$

Crab House6 Tverskaya Ul.M. PushkinskayaCuisine: American, Mediterranean, Seafood, $$$

Da Cicco13/12 ProfsoyuznayaM. ProfsoyuznayaCuisine: Italian, $$

Dacha na Pokrovke18/4 bld.16, Pokrovsky BulevardM. KurskayaCuisine: European, $$$

Darbars38 Leninsky Pr. 16 Fl Hotel SputnikM. Leninsky ProspektCuisine: Indian, $$$

Darling, I’ll call you back ..7, Bolshoy StrochenovskyM. SerpukhovskayaCuisine: European, Russian, $$$

Das KapitalBuilding 1, 6/9/20 Rozhdestvenka St.M. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: European, German, $$

Ded Pihto37/3 Myasnitskaya ulicaM. Chistye PrudyCuisine: European, Russian, $$$$

DeFAQto30/2 str.1, Bol.LubyankaM. TrubnayaCuisine: American, European, Indian, $$$

Denis Simachev12 Stoleshnikov Per. Bldg.2M. Okhotny RyadCuisine: European, Mediterranean, $$$

Dissident25 Nikolskaya str, Nautilus Shopping Center, 5th floorM. LubyankaCuisine: European, $$$

Divas10 Strastnoy Boulevard, Building 2M. ChekhovskayaCuisine: European, French, Russian, International, $$

Dolls23b Krasnaya Presnya, Building 1M. KrasnopresnenskayaCuisine: European, Japanese, Seafood, $$$$

Don Pedro9 Spiridonievsky laneM. PushkinskayaCuisine: European, Mediterranean, $$$$

Don’t Tell Mama5, Putnikovskiy bol. perM. PushkinskayaCuisine: European, $$$

Donna Klara21/13, Malaya BronnayaM. TverskayaCuisine: European, $$$

Donna Margarita2 bld.1, 1905 GodaM. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: Home, Italian, $$$

Dorian Gray6/1 Kadashevskaya nab.M. Kitay-gorodCuisine: European, Italian, $$

Doucet X.O.31 Novinsky boulevard, Trading Center ’Novinsky’M. BarrikadnayaCuisine: European, French, $$

Druzhba4, Novoslobodskaya M. NovoslobodskayaCuisine: Chinese, $$$

Dukhan Alaverdy23-25/2 Gruzinsky Val.M. BelorusskayaCuisine: Georgian, $$

Duma11 bld 3b, MokhovayaM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: European, $$

Eat & Talk7 Mohovaya St.M. BorovitskayaCuisine: European, $

El Gauchito48, Kutuzovskiy pr.M. Slavyansky Bulvar, $$$

Emporio Armani Caffe3, Red SquareM. Ploshchad RevolyutsiiCuisine: European, Italian, $$

Esperanto Lounge Bar 41a Vyatskaya ul.M. DmitrovskayaCuisine: European, $

Eva31 Marshala Rokossovskogo bulvarM. Ulitsa PodbelskogoCuisine: European, Russian, Medeterian, Italian, French, Japanese, $

Extra Lounge 15, Kosygina M. Vorobyovy GoryCuisine: European, $$$

Farsi2/1 Kutuzovskiy prospectM. SmolenskayaCuisine: Iranian, $$$

Favorite Pub24, SpiridonovkaM. BarrikadnayaCuisine: American, $$$

Filini Bar & Restaurant26, 3 ulica Yamskogo polyaM. BelorusskayaCuisine: Italian, $$$

Five Spices3/18, Sivtsev Vrazhek PereulokM. KropotkinskayaCuisine: Chinese, Indian, Thai, $$

Flat Iron Roadhouse7 Voznesensky Per. Hotel CourtyardM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: European, $$

Flei8 bld.2, Lyalin PereulokM. Kitay-gorodCuisine: Farm products, Home, $$

Focaccia3 Kozitsky per.M. TverskayaCuisine: Chinese, Indian, $$

Fonda2 str.90 Ugreshskaya St.M. DubrovkaCuisine: European, Russian, $$$$

Free Bar21-23 bld.1, PokrovkaM. Chistye PrudyCuisine: European, Tex-mex, $$$

Free Bar People26/1 Trubnaya St.M. TrubnayaCuisine: European, $

French Cafe3 Smolenskaya Pl.M. SmolenskayaCuisine: European, French, Japanese, $$$

French cheese hole15-17 Bolshoi Cherkasskii Per.M. LubyankaCuisine: French, $$$

Frendys28/6 bld.3, PokrovkaM. Chistye PrudyCuisine: American, $

Friends Forever18, Kozijinsky per.M. TverskayaCuisine: American, Italian, $$

Fusion Plaza12, Krasnopresnenskaya nab.M. VystavochnayaCuisine: European, Italian, Indian, $$$

G Graf8, 4th Dobryninsky PereulokM. DobryninskayaCuisine: Italian, European, $$$$

Gallery27, PetrovkaM. ChekhovskayaCuisine: Author’s, Asian, European, Italian, Russian, French, Japanese, $$$

Gandhara15 bldg.7, RochdelskayaM. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: Pakistani, $$$

Gayane’s1/4 bld.2, Smolensky PereulokM. SmolenskayaCuisine: Armenian, $$

Genatsvale11 bld.2, Novy ArbatM. ArbatskayaCuisine: Georgian, $$$

Genatsvale12/1, OstozhenkaM. Park KulturyCuisine: Georgian, $$

Giardino di pino30/1 str.1 Obrucheva St.M. KaluzhskayaCuisine: Italian, $

Ginkgo by Seiji3 Tverskaya, The Ritz-Carlton M. Okhotny RyadCuisine: Vietnamese, Chinese, Japanese, $$$$

Giovedi Cafe26, Ozerkovskaya NabereznayaM. PaveletskayaCuisine: Italian, $$$

Godunov5/1, Teatralnaya SquareM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: Russian, $$$

Gogol-Mogol6 Gagarinsky Per.M. KropotkinskayaCuisine: European, Russian, $$

Good Beef15-17 bld1, Bolshoi Cherkassky PereulokM. LubyankaCuisine: Steaks, $$

Goodman Steak HouseMultiple locationsM. Leninsky ProspektCuisine: Steakhouse, $$$

Grand Cru8 bld.1, Presnenskaya NabereznayaM. TverskayaCuisine: Seafood, $$$

Greenwich Pub52/5, Kosmodamianskaya NabereznayaM. PaveletskayaCuisine: Pub Food, $$

Gusyatnikoff2a Aleksandra Soljenicina St.M. TaganskayaCuisine: Russian, $$$$

Hachapuri2/1 Shluzovaya Nab., bld. 7M. PaveletskayaCuisine: Georgian, $$$

Hachapuri10 Bolshoy Gnezdnikovskiy Per.M. TverskayaCuisine: European, Russian, $

Hachapuri7 Ukrainskiy Bul.M. KiyevskayaCuisine: Georgian, $$$

Hamon and Wine4, Sytinsky PereulokM. PushkinskayaCuisine: Spanish, $$

Happiness 5, Bolshoi Putinkovsky PereulokM. PushkinskayaCuisine: European, Italian, Ñonfectionery, $$

Happiness 3, Kamergersky pereulokM. TeatralnayaCuisine: Confectionery, $$

Hard Rock Cafe44, ArbatM. SmolenskayaCuisine: American, $$

Help Bar27 bld1, Tverskaya-Yamskaya M. BelorusskayaCuisine: European, Tex-mex, $$

CHICAGO PRIME: STEAKHOUSE & BAR

Strastnoy Blvd. 8aM. Tverskaya Cuisine: American, $$ Moscow’s most popular steakhouse & bar. Top steaks, efficient service and large wine list

Moscow Good Food

Club

HUDSON BAR10, Butirsky ValM. BelorusskayaCuisine: American, European, $$ Lively bar with good food, superb cocktails, great atmosphere & excellent service

85


Hirobld. 32, 31 DolgorukovskayaM. NovoslobodskayaCuisine: Chinese, Japanese, Thai, $$

Huntsman’s House and Safari Lodge32 PokrovkaM. KurskayaCuisine: German, $$$

I Like Bar21, Shukhova St.M. ShabolovskayaCuisine: European, $$$

IL Camino4B bld.4, Kozlovskiy PereulokM. Krasnye VorotaCuisine: European, Italian, French, $$$

Il CapriccioBuilding 4, 92 Lobachevskogo St.M. Prospekt VernadskogoCuisine: Italian, $$$

IL Forno3/14 Ostojenka ul.M. KropotkinskayaCuisine: Italian, $$

IL Forno8/10 Neglinnaya ul.M. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: Italian, $$

IL Kamino4 Bld.4, Bolshoi Kozlovsky PereulokM. Krasnye VorotaCuisine: European, Swiss, $$$

Indabar24, Novy ArbatM. ArbatskayaCuisine: Uzbek, Chinese, Japanese, Indian, $

Isola23 A Tarasa Shevhenko Emb., Bashnya M. KiyevskayaCuisine: Mediterranean, $$$

John Bull Pub2/9 Smolenskaya PloshchadM. SmolenskayaCuisine: International, $$

Ju-Ju15, Smolenskiy BoulevardM. SmolenskayaCuisine: Author’s, Home, draw-heavy oven, $$$

Jukovka41/1 Marshala Jukova pr.M. PolezhayevskayaCuisine: Mediterranean, Italian, European, $$$

Kabanchik27 Krasina St.M. MayakovskayaCuisine: Georgian, European, $

Kalina Cafe17 Prechistenskaya Nab.M. KropotkinskayaCuisine: Italian, Mediterranean, Russian, $$

Kamchatka7, Kuznetsky MostM. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: European, Russian, $

Kapri7 Saharova Pr.M. Chistye PrudyCuisine: European, Italian, $$$

Karaoke Boom46 NovoslobodskayaM. MendeleyevskayaCuisine: Italian, Japanese, Russian, $$$

Karetny Dvor52/1, PovarskayaM. BarrikadnayaCuisine: Azeri, Caucasian, Georgian, $

Karma Bar3 Pushechnaya St.M. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: Japanese, $$$

KasbarBuilding 5, 3 Turchaninov Per.M. Park KulturyCuisine: Arabic, European, French, International, Japanese, Seafood, $$

Kavkazskaya Plennitsa36, Prospect MiraM. Prospekt MiraCuisine: Georgian, $$$

Kebab City5 Kamergersky PereulokM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: Azeri, European, Japanese, $$

Khajuraho14, Shmitovsky PereulokM. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: European, Indian, $

Khinkalnaya15, NeglinnayaM. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: Georgian, $$

Khlestakov-TraktirBuild.1, 9 3rd Frunzenskaya St.M. FrunzenskayaCuisine: French, Fusion, Russian, $$

Kish-Mish28, Novy ArbatM. ArbatskayaCuisine: Uzbek, $$

Kitaisky Kvartal12 bldg.1, Prospect Mira M. Prospekt MiraCuisine: Chinese, $$$

Kitaisky Letchik Jao Da25, Lubyansky ProezdM. Kitay-gorodCuisine: European, Asian, Russian, $$$

KitchenettePresnenskaya Nab., 2, Afimall City , 5th floor Metro Vystavochnaya,M. VystavochnayaCuisine: Brasserie, $$

KitchenetteKamergersky Per.6M. Okhotny RyadCuisine: Brasserie, $$

Kitezh23/10 Petrovka St.M. ChekhovskayaCuisine: Russian, $

Kleopatra2a 1905 Goda Ul., Bldg. 2M. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: International, $$$

KolbassoffMultipleM. Oktyabrskoye PoleCuisine: Russian, $$

Kolkhi1/1 Leningradsky Pr.M. BelorusskayaCuisine: Georgian, $$

Konigs Platz1a str.2 Kozitskiy per.M. PushkinskayaCuisine: European, Russian, German, $$

Koonjoot 36a Berejkovskaya nab.M. KiyevskayaCuisine: European, Eastern, $$

Kruazh4, PrechistenkaM. KropotkinskayaCuisine: Russian, $$$$

Kruzhka15 Nikolskaya ulitsaM. Ploshchad RevolyutsiiCuisine: Beer Bar, $$

KuhmeisterBuild.1, 47 PiatnitskaiaM. NovokuznetskayaCuisine: French, Fusion, $$

Kult5 Yauzskaya emb.M. Kitay-gorodCuisine: European, Spanish, $$$$

Kuznetsky Most 2020, Kuznetsky MostM. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: European, $

Kvas20 Sadovaya-Chernogryazskaya St.M. KurskayaCuisine: Russian, $$

La Bottega5B, LesnayaM. BelorusskayaCuisine: Italian, $$

La Bottega Siciliana2, Okhotny RyadM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: Italian, $$

La Cantina5/6, TverskayaM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: Mexican, American, $$

La Delizia 56a Sevastopolskiy prospectM. BelyayevoCuisine: European, Italian, Caucasian, $$$

La Gourmet1/3 Bolshaya Polyanka St.M. TretyakovskayaCuisine: Caucasian, $$$

La Luna69 Sadovnichevskaya nab.M. NovokuznetskayaCuisine: European, International, Japanese, $$

La MareeMalaya Gruzinskaya ul., 23M. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: Mediterranean, $$$

La Stazione18/1 Olympiysky ProspektM. Prospekt MiraCuisine: Italian, $$

Latuk1/15, YauzskayaM. Kitay-gorodCuisine: vegetarian, $$$

Lavash7 Tsvetnoi Bul.M. Tsvetnoy BulvarCuisine: Armenian, $$$

Lawson’s Bar14/6, Bolshaya SadovayaM. MayakovskayaCuisine: European, $$

Lazzetti4 Nogorniy bul.M. NagornayaCuisine: Italian, Mediterranean, $

Le Gateau23, TverskayaM. TverskayaCuisine: European, French, $$

Le Gateau2 bld.1, Paveletskaya SquareM. PaveletskayaCuisine: European, French, $

Lemonade7 Kievskaya St.M. KiyevskayaCuisine: European, $$

Leningrad21/40 Kalanchevskaya St.M. Krasnye VorotaCuisine: European, Russian, $$

Les Menus Par Pierre Gagnaire8/2 Novinskiy bulvar M. SmolenskayaCuisine: French, $$$$

Letto Club33 str.1 Povarskaya St.M. BarrikadnayaCuisine: Italian, Japanese, $

Life Pub20 Fr. EngelsaM. BaumanskayaCuisine: European, $$

Liga Pap24, Bolshaya LubyanskayaM. Sretensky BulvarCuisine: European, Italian, Spanish, $$

Lilit2 Ohotniy Ryad St. (Moscow Hotel)M. Okhotny RyadCuisine: European, $

LiLuSireneviy bulvar 25aM. ShcholkovskayaCuisine: Caucasian, European, Russian , $$

Limonchello4 Komsomolskii ProspektM. Park KulturyCuisine: European, Italian, $$$

Lisya Nora2 Dayev Per.M. SukharevskayaCuisine: European, $$

Little Japan12a, Bolshaya Dorogomilovskaya M. KiyevskayaCuisine: Japanese, $$

Los Bandidos7 Bolshaya Ordynka St.M. TretyakovskayaCuisine: Seafood, Spanish, Vegetarian, $$$$

Louisiana Steak House30 Pyatnitskaya, bldg.4M. TretyakovskayaCuisine: American, $$

Luce21, 1-ya Tverskaya-YamskayaM. MayakovskayaCuisine: European, Russian, Japanese, $$

Luch27 bld.1, Bolshaya PirogovskayaM. SportivnayaCuisine: Coctails, $$

Luciano3, Smolenskaya SquareM. SmolenskayaCuisine: Italian, Author’s, $$

Ludi kak ludi1/4, Solyansky TupicM. Kitay-gorodCuisine: European, Confectionary, $

Ludvig3/1 Marshala Vasilevskogo St.M. ShchukinskayaCuisine: Czech, European, German, Russian, $$

L’AlberoDelegatskaya Str., 7M. NovoslobodskayaCuisine: Italian, $$$$

L’Altro Bosco Café10 Petrovka St.M. TeatralnayaCuisine: Italian, $$$

Macaroni62 Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Ul.M. BelorusskayaCuisine: Italian, $$

= Menu in English

ITALIANETS13, Samotechnaya Ul, m. Trubnaya, Cuisine Italian, English menu price $$$True Italian cuisine from Executive Chef Giuseppe Todisco

Moscow Good Food

Club

KATIE O SHEA’SGroholsky Per 25, Bldg 5M. Prospekt MiraCuisine: Irish, $$ Genuine Irish pub with great beer, food and atmosphere

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Madam Galife26/1, Prospect MiraM. Prospekt MiraCuisine: Georgian, European, $$

Maison Elitaire1 A, 37/43 Bolshaya Pirogovskaya St.M. SportivnayaCuisine: French, Mediterranean, $$$

Mandarin2 Mal. Cherkasskiy Per.M. LubyankaCuisine: Pan Asian, $

Mario17 Klimashkina Ul.M. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: Italian, $$$$

Market18 bld.1, Sadovaya-SamotechnayaM. Tsvetnoy BulvarCuisine: Seafood, Asian, Chineese, $$$

Marocana1/15, Kotelnicheskaya NabereznayaM. TaganskayaCuisine: Moroccan, $

Martinez bar1, SretenkaM. TurgenevskayaCuisine: European, $$

Maxim bar15, Tsvetnoy BulvarM. Tsvetnoy BulvarCuisine: European, $$$

Mayak19/3, Bolshaya Nikitskaya M. ArbatskayaCuisine: Japanese, $$

Megu8/2 Novinskiy bulvar M. SmolenskayaCuisine: Japanese, $$$$

Merkato9, Krymskii ValM. OktyabrskayaCuisine: Italian, $

Mestiere38, Leninsky ProspectM. Leninsky ProspektCuisine: Italian, $$$

Milk and Honey38, MyasnitskayaM. Chistye PrudyCuisine: European, $$$

Mr. Lee7, Kuznetsky Most M. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: Panasian, Author’s, $$$

Myasnoy Club19 str.1 Kuznetskiy Most St.M. Lubyanka Cuisine: European, $$$$

Na Melnitse24, Sadovaya-SpasskayaM. Chistye PrudyCuisine: European, Russian, $$

Nabi13, Prechistenskaya NabereznayaM. KropotkinskayaCuisine: Asian, $$$

Navarro’s Bar & Grill23, Shmitovskiy ProezdM. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: Mediterranean, Latin American, $$

News&More11 Novinskiy bul.M. BarrikadnayaCuisine: European, American, $$

NobuB.Dmitrovskaya 20/1M. ChekhovskayaCuisine: Japaneese, $$$$

Noev Kovcheg9 Maly Ivanovsky pereulokM. Kitay-gorodCuisine: European, Georgian, $$$

Nostalgie12A, Chistoprudny BoulevardM. Chistye PrudyCuisine: European, French, Japanese, $$$

NYM yoga4/5, Plotnikov PereulokM. SmolenskayaCuisine: European, Asian, Vegetarian, $

Oblaka48 Kutuzovskiy pr.M. Slavyansky BulvarCuisine: European, $$$$

Oblomov5, Monetchikovskyi 1-iy PereulokM. DobryninskayaCuisine: Russian, European, $$$$

Octyabr24, Novy ArbatM. ArbatskayaCuisine: Japanese, European, $

Ogonek5/2, Potapovsky PereulokM. Sretensky BulvarCuisine: European, Asian, $$

Old Berlin25 Arbat St.M. SmolenskayaCuisine: German, $$

Old China5/6 bld.4, Kamergersky PereulokM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: Chinese, $$

Old HavanaTalalihina St. 28/1M. Volgogradsky ProspektCuisine: Cuban, $$

Old School Pub15, Bol. CherkasskiyM. Kitay-gorodCuisine: European, Russian, $$

Olimp24 Luznetskaya EmbankmentM. SportivnayaCuisine: Armenian, Azeri, European, Russian, $$

Oliva3/5, Smolensky BoulevardM. Park KulturyCuisine: Middle Eastern, $$

Om Cafe15/1 Novy Arbat Ul.M. ArbatskayaCuisine: Thai, $$

Onegin12/2 Prechistenka St.M. KropotkinskayaCuisine: European, Russian, $$$

Orange Cow’s House18 Pavlovskaya St.M. TulskayaCuisine: European, Russian, $$

Oriental Tale22 D Frunzenskaya EmbankmentM. FrunzenskayaCuisine: Azeri, Russian, $

Osteria Da Cicco3, Banniy PereulokM. Prospekt MiraCuisine: Italian, Mediterranean, $$

Osteria MontiroliBolshaya Nikitskaya, 60M. BarrikadnayaCuisine: Italian, $$$$

Osteria nel Parco9, Krymskiy ValM. OktyabrskayaCuisine: Italian, $

Osteria Numero Uno2, Tsvetnoy BoulevardM. Tsvetnoy BulvarCuisine: Italian, $$

Ostozhye 40/1 Ostojenka ul.M. Park KulturyCuisine: Russian, $$$

Otkrity Mir18, PavlovskayaM. TulskayaCuisine: European, Indian, $

Oñakbasi10 str.2 Kozjevnicheskaya St.M. PaveletskayaCuisine: European, Turkish, East, $$

Pacha4 PokrovkaM. Kitay-gorodCuisine: East, European, Caucasus, $$$

Palazzo Ducale3 Tverskoy BoulevardM. TverskayaCuisine: Italian, $$$$

Paluba8 Berezhkovskaya nab.M. KiyevskayaCuisine: Armenian, Azeri, Turkish, $$$

Pancho Villa52, Bolshaya YakimankaM. OktyabrskayaCuisine: Mexican, $$

Pane & Olio Pizzeria38 Bldg 1. Myasnitskaya M. Chistye PrudyCuisine: Italian, $$$

Pane & Olio Trattoria22, Timura Frunze M. Park KulturyCuisine: Italian, $$$

Panorama5 Smolenskaya St. (Hotel Golden Ring,2st floor)M. SmolenskayaCuisine: European, $$$$

Papa Joe’sBuilding 26, 1A Nikoloyamskaya St.M. TaganskayaCuisine: American, Latin American, Mexican, $$

Papa’s Placeul. Nikol’skaya 10M. LubyankaCuisine: American, International, $$

Paparazzi3 Pyatnitskaya St.M. NovokuznetskayaCuisine: European, American, $$

Paper MoonBuild. 1, 17 Petrovka St.M. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: Italian, Vegetarian, $$$

Parisienne31/9, Leningradsky Pr.M. DinamoCuisine: French, European, $$$$

Pasta Mama12/9, Spiridonevsky PereulokM. TverskayaCuisine: Italian, $$$$

Pattaiya14, Bol. Sukharevskaya SquareM. SukharevskayaCuisine: Thai, Chinese, $$

Pavilion7 bld.1, Bolshoy Patriarshiy PereulokM. MayakovskayaCuisine: Russian, $$$

Pechki-Lavochki10 Nizhnyaya Radishchevskaya StreetM. TaganskayaCuisine: Russian, $

Peking Duck24 Tverskaya St.M. PushkinskayaCuisine: Chinese, Vegetarian, $$$

Peperoni17, PetrovkaM. TeatralnayaCuisine: Italian, $$$

Peshi10 Kutuzovsky Prospekt M. KutuzovskayaCuisine: Seafood, $$$

Petrovich24/3, MyasnitskayaM. Chistye PrudyCuisine: Russian, $$ MUZEY

RESTAURANTMuzey, Kosmodimianskaya nab. 52/7 (next to Swisshotel)M. PaveletskayaCuisine: Italian, European, Pan-Asian, $$ Extremely comfortable Italian restaurant serving high quality creative & traditional Italian cuisine, personally cooked by Chef Marco Lachetta

Moscow Good Food

Club

NIGHT FLIGHT 17 Tverskaya St M. PushkinskayaCuisine: Scandinavian, European, $$$ +7 495 629 4165 www.nightflight.ru“Superb food at sensible prices prepared by excellent chefs with friendly, efficient service”

Moscow Good Food

Club OSTERIA DELLA PIAZZA BIANCALesnaya street 5aM. BelarusskayaCuisine: Italian $$$$ Typical Italian traditions for food and hospitality. Food care is the most important aspect, with freshness and simplicity as the main characteristics. Feel and breath Italian culture and true Italian cuisine.

Moscow Good Food

Club

ORANGE TREE RESTAURANTTverskoy bulvar 26, bldg 2 M. Pushkinskaya. Cuisine Scandina-vian, International $$$$ Comfortable and classy restaurant with creative dished from the Finnish chef.

Moscow Good Food

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= Menu in English

Piccolino11 1st Kolobovsky PereulokM. TrubnayaCuisine: Italian, $$$

Pink Cadillac4-6, Bolshaya Gruzinskaya ulitsaM. BarrikadnayaCuisine: American, $$

Pinocchio23 A Naberejnaya Trasa ShevhenkoM. MezhdunarodnayaCuisine: Italian, $$$

Pizzeria il Pomodoro54 bld.2, SadovnicheskayaM. PaveletskayaCuisine: Mediterranean, $$$

Plotnikov PubPlotinikov pereulok 22/16M. SmolenskayaCuisine: European, $$

Pochtmeyster47/23, ArbatM. SmolenskayaCuisine: European, Russian, German, $

Polo Club11/12, PetrovkaM. LubyankaCuisine: European, $$$$

Pomest’eTamanskaya 46M. PolezhayevskayaCuisine: American, Caucasian, European, French, Italian, Mediterranean, Seafood, Spanish, Vegetarian, $$$

Porter House20 Arkhitektora Vlasova St.M. Novye CheryomushkiCuisine: European, $$$

Porto Chervo24, Novy ArbatM. ArbatskayaCuisine: Italian, $

Porto Maltese3 Varvarka Ul.M. Kitay-gorodCuisine: Seafood, $$$$

Porto Maltese21 Pravda St.M. SavyolovskayaCuisine: Mediterranean, $$$$

Porto Maltese11 Leninsky Prospect St.M. OktyabrskayaCuisine: Mediterranean, $$$$

Porto Maltese31 A Leningradsky Prospect St.M. DinamoCuisine: Mediterranean, $$$$

Porutshik RzhevskyBuild. 4, 4 Bolshoy Tolmachevsky PereulokM. TretyakovskayaCuisine: Fusion, Russian, Vegetarian, $$

Pravda 2121/1 Pravdy St.M. BelorusskayaCuisine: Russian, European, $$

Prego Pizza & Pasta6, Dolgorukovskaya M. NovoslobodskayaCuisine: Italian, $$$

Presnya Cafe7, Stolyarniy PereulokM. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: European, Caucasian, $$

Prime Star77 bld.2, Sadovnicheskaya naberezhnaya (Aurora)M. PaveletskayaCuisine: European, Russian,Mixed, $$

Prospektbar42 str.2a, Shepkina ul.M. Prospekt MiraCuisine: European, $$

Radio City Bar & Grill5, Boshaya Sadovaya M. MayakovskayaCuisine: International, $$

Ragout16, bld.5, Olimpiisky ProspectM. Prospekt MiraCuisine: European, $$$

Rakhat Lukum9 Bol. DmitrovkaM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: Uzbek, $$$

Razguliay11 Spartakovskaya St.M. BaumanskayaCuisine: Russian, $$

Real Food Restaurant 12, Krasnopresnenskaya nab.(Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre)M. VystavochnayaCuisine: European, Italian, $$$

Red & White15 Lesnaya St. (Hotel Holiday Inn)M. BelorusskayaCuisine: European, Italian, $$$

Red Square1 Krasnaya ploschadM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: Russian, $

Reka6 bld.2, Bersenenskaya NabereznayaM. KropotkinskayaCuisine: European, $$

Restaurant Moschoice15 Kosygina St.M. Leninsky ProspektCuisine: European, $

Revolutsiya40, NovokuznetskayaM. PaveletskayaCuisine: Home, $$$

Rialto9/11 Bolshoy Fakelny LaneM. MarksistskayaCuisine: Italian, $$

Ribny Bazaar10/2, Tryokhprudny PereulokM. TverskayaCuisine: Seafood, European, $$$

Richard Lion Heart29 Michurinsky ProspektM. UniversitetCuisine: European, $$$

Rio-GrandeNo.19 Zeleny ProspektM. PerovoCuisine: Armenian, Azeri, European, Georgian, Mexican, $

Rio-Rio16 Krasnopresnenskaya Emb.M. KutuzovskayaCuisine: Brazilian, European, $$$$

River Side10 Mantulinskaya St.M. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: European, Chineese, Japaneese, International, $$$

Riverside cafe29, Serebryanicheskaya NabereznayaM. KurskayaCuisine: european, $$

Riviere4, Bolshaya DorogomilovskayaM. KiyevskayaCuisine: French, $$$

Roberto20 Rozhdestvenskii BulvarM. SukharevskayaCuisine: Italian, $$$

Roll Hole3 Holodilnyy Per.M. TulskayaCuisine: European, J apanese, Vegetarian, $

Romanov17/1 Neglinnaya ulitsaM. TeatralnayaCuisine: Mediterranean, Russian, European, $$

Roni20/1, PetrovkaM. TrubnayaCuisine: Asian grill, $$$

Rosemary26 NikoloyamskayaM. TaganskayaCuisine: French, International, Italian, $

Royal Family15 Ul. Kosygina (Hotel Orlyonok)M. Leninsky ProspektCuisine: Korean, $

Royale21/1 Begovaya St. (in the Hippodrome building)M. BegovayaCuisine: European, Italian, Russian, $

Ryba4 Nashekinsky Per.M. KropotkinskayaCuisine: European, Russian, Seafood, $

Rytsarsky Club28 KosyginaM. Vorobyovy GoryCuisine: European, $$$$

Sahara1 Shcholkovskoe shosseM. ShcholkovskayaCuisine: European, Caucasian, $$

Saigon39 Bolshaya Gruzinskaya ul.M. BelorusskayaCuisine: Vietnamese, $

Sakhili6 Bolshoi Karetny Per Bldg 1M. Tsvetnoy BulvarCuisine: Georgian, $$$

Sanduny14 str.4, NeglinnayaM. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: Chinese, Russian, Uzbek, $$

Saperavi27, 1st Tverskaya-YamskayaM. BelorusskayaCuisine: Gerogian, $$$

Scotland Yard34 bld.1, Petrovka M. ChekhovskayaCuisine: Pub Food, $$$

Seiji5/2, Komsomolsky ProspectM. Park KulturyCuisine: Japanese, $$$$

Seven Fridays6, VorontsovskayaM. TaganskayaCuisine: Russian, French, $$$

Shamrock bar11 str.1 Noviy Arbat St.M. ArbatskayaCuisine: European, Irland, $$

Shanti2/1 Myasnitsky ProyesdM. Krasnye VorotaCuisine: Vietnamese, $$$

Shantil57, Bolshaya GruzinskayaM. BelorusskayaCuisine: European, $$$

Sharabara 29/3 Lomonosovskiy pr.M. Prospekt VernadskogoCuisine: Eastern, European, $$

Shashlichnaya #12, Ryazansky PereulokM. Krasnye VorotaCuisine: European, $

Shatush17, Gogolevsky BoulevardM. KropotkinskayaCuisine: Chinese, European, Japanese, Tai, $$$$

Shinok2, 1905 GodaM. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: Ukrainian, $$$

Shore HouseCrocus City (66 km MKAD)M. MyakininoCuisine: European, Japanese, Azerbaijani, Uzbek, $$$

Sindbad14, Nikitsky BoulevardM. ArbatskayaCuisine: Lebanese, Middle Eastern, $$

Sirena Restaurant15, Bolshaya SpasskayaM. SukharevskayaCuisine: Seafood, $$$$

Sisters Grimm11, Stoleshnikov PereulokM. ChekhovskayaCuisine: Author, European, $$

Sixties diners16/2 str.2 Noviy Arbat St.M. ArbatskayaCuisine: European, American, $

Skazka56 Profsoyuznaya St.M. Novye CheryomushkiCuisine: European, $

Sky Lounge32a Leninskiy Pr.M. Leninsky ProspektCuisine: European, Japanese, $$

Smotra Bar & Restaurant66 Leningradskiy pr.M. AeroportCuisine: European, Japanese, $

SOHO Rooms12/8 Bolshoi Savvinsky Nab.M. SportivnayaCuisine: International, $$$$

Soup Cafe62/25 1st Brestskaya, bldg.3M. BelorusskayaCuisine: European, $$

SQUARE60 str.1 Brestkaya 1st St.M. MayakovskayaCuisine: European, Russian, English, $

Stariki13 str.2, Bol.LubyankaM. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: European, $$

REAL FOOD RESTAURANT

Crowne Plaza Hotel/WTCKrasnopresenskaya Nab 12. Full a la Carte menu incorporating healthy dishes made from organic ingredients. Open kitchen and excel-lent food & wine

Moscow Good Food

Club

SILVERS IRISH PUB 5/6, Nikitsky PereulokM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: Pub food, $$ “Traditional Irish hospitality with great pub food and excellent beers”

SCANDINAVIA 7 Maliy Palanshevskiy Per.M. PushkinskayaCuisine: European, Skandinavian, $$ “Comfortable, calm restaurant with high quality cuisine offering many Scandinavian specialities”

Moscow Good Food

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Starlite Diner6, Vernadskogo PrM. UniversitetCuisine: American, $$

Starlite Diner9a, Korovy ValM. OktyabrskayaCuisine: American, $$

Starlite Diner16/5, Bolotnaya SquareM. TretyakovskayaCuisine: American, $$

Starlite Diner16 Bolshaya SadovaM. MayakovskayaCuisine: American, $$

Steyks21 Verkhnyaya Radishchevskaya St.M. TaganskayaCuisine: European, $$

Strelka14/5 Bersenevskaya naberejnayaM. KropotkinskayaCuisine: European,$$$

Suliko42/2 Bol. PolyankaM. PolyankaCuisine: Georgian, $$$

Super Mario41 Gastello St.M. SokolnikiCuisine: Armenian, Azeri, European, Georgian, $$

Sushi-Bar KiotKrymsky val, 10M. OktyabrskayaCuisine: Chinese, Japanese, $$

Sweet Home Cafe14/2 str.1, MyasnitskayaM. LubyankaCuisine: European, $$

T-BonePyatnitskaya Ul. 52, bldg. 2M. PolyankaCuisine: Steaks, $$

Takasa2/1 bld.1, Kutuzovsky prospectM. KiyevskayaCuisine: Japanese, $$$

Talavera2 Europe squar (RadIsson Slavyanskaya Hotel)M. KiyevskayaCuisine: Italian, $$$

Taliesin26 ValovayaM. PaveletskayaCuisine: European, $$$$

Tancy11, NicolskayaM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: European, Italian, $$

Tapa De Comida20/2 Trubnaya St.M. Tsvetnoy BulvarCuisine: Spanish, $$$$

Tapa’rillas Tapas Bar4/3 bld.3, Strasnoy BoulevardM. ChekhovskayaCuisine: Spanish , $$

Tatler club 2/1, Kutuzovsky ProspektM. KiyevskayaCuisine: European, Russian, $$$$

Tavern Admiral BenbauBuilding A, 52 Sudostroitelnaya St.M. KolomenskayaCuisine: Fusion, $$

Tchaikovsky31/4, Triumfalnaya SquqreM. MayakovskayaCuisine: European, Italian, Russian, $$

Tel Aviv30/1, Tsvetnoy BoulevardM. Tsvetnoy BulvarCuisine: Israeli, $$$

Temple BarMultipleM. Okhotny RyadCuisine: European, $$

Tequila Bar & Boom4, Kuznetsky MostM. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: Mexican, $

Terrace13 Uglichskaja St.M. AltufyevoCuisine: European, Russian, $$

Thai Elephant25 bld,1, Horoshevskoe shosseM. PolezhayevskayaCuisine: Eastern, European.Thai, $$$

The StandardBolshoi Zlatoustinsky Per.9M. Kitay-gorodCuisine: American, International, $$

Tiflis32 bld.2, OstozhenkaM. Park KulturyCuisine: Georgian, $$$

Time Out Bar5, Sadovaya ulitsa Hotel pekin M. MayakovskayaCuisine: European, $$

Timeterria LiPeople4, 2nd Shemilovsky pereulokM. NovoslobodskayaCuisine: Pizzeria, $

Tommy D Gastro Bar1, Tretyakovsky ProyezdM. LubyankaCuisine: International, $$$

Tonino Lamborghini Boutique Caffe19 bld.1, Kuznetsky MostM. Kuznetsky MostCuisine: Author’s, Home, European, Italian, $$$

Trattoria Venezia9 bld.3, Stoleshnikov PereulokM. ChekhovskayaCuisine: European, $$$

Trattoria Venezia4/3 bld.3, Strastnoi BulevardM. TverskayaCuisine: European, $$$

Trattoria Venezia17, ShabolovkaM. ShabolovskayaCuisine: European, $$$

Trubadur2/1 bld.1, Kutuzovsky prospectM. KiyevskayaCuisine: European, $$$

Truffaldino20 Marksistskaya Ul.,bldg 1M. TaganskayaCuisine: Italian, Seafood, $$

Tsar’s Hunt186a Zhukovka, Rublyovo-Uspenskoye Shosse, 9 kilometers from MKADM. KrylatskoyeCuisine: Russian, $$$$

Tsimmis3, NovoslobodskayaM. NovoslobodskayaCuisine: Jewish, $$$

Tunnel7 Lubyansky ProezdM. LubyankaCuisine: American, European, International, Japanese, $

Tutto Bene8, Presnenskaya nab., bld.1M. VystavochnayaCuisine: Italian, $$$

Tverbul24 Tverskoy bul.M. TverskayaCuisine: European, $$$$

Tyrandot26/5, Tverskoy bulvarM. TverskayaCuisine: European, Chinese, Japanese, $$$$

U Shveika2, BarrikadnayaM. BarrikadnayaCuisine: Beer Restaurants, Czech, European, $$

Uilliam’s20 Mal. BronnayaM. MayakovskayaCuisine: Italian, $$$

Unicum10 2nd Tverskaya- Yamskaya St.M. MayakovskayaCuisine: French, $$$

Uzbehka23/10 Petrovka St.M. PushkinskayaCuisine: Mediterranean, $$

Uzbekistan29/14 Neglinnaya Ul.M. TrubnayaCuisine: Arabic, Azeri, Chinese, Uzbek, $$$

Vanil1, OstozhenkaM. KropotkinskayaCuisine: Russian, French, Japanese, $$$

Vanilla SkyBuild.3, 11-13 Nikolskaya St.M. Okhotny RyadCuisine: European, Russian, $$

Vapiano26/1 Prospekt miraM. Prospekt MiraCuisine: Italian, $$$

Venice16 Spartakovskaja SquareM. BaumanskayaCuisine: European, Italian, Mixed, $$$

Veranda u Dachi70, Zhukovka village, Rublevo-Uspenskoye shosseCuisine: Italian, Uzbek, Japanese, $$$

Vesna19, Novy ArbatM. ArbatskayaCuisine: Author’s, Italian, Mediterranean, Japanese, $$$

Veterok24, Gorki-2 village, Rublevo-Uspenskoye shosseCuisine: Home cooking from Arkady Novikov, $$$

Viskonti28a Shipilovskaya St.M. DomodedovskayaCuisine: European, $$

Vivace7 Sadovaya- Samotechnaya St.M. Tsvetnoy BulvarCuisine: Italian, $$$

Vizavi6 Serpukhovskoy ValM. TulskayaCuisine: European, $$

Vodny39 bld.6, Leningradskoye ShosseM. Vodny StadionCuisine: Italian, Uzbek, Japanese, $$$

Vogue Cafe7/9, Kuznetsky MostM. TeatralnayaCuisine: European, $$$

White Cafe36/9, Novy ArbatM. SmolenskayaCuisine: European, Japanese, $$$

White clouds4, Pokrovka M. Chistye PrudyCuisine: European, Asian, Vegetarian, Mexican, $

White Rabbit3 Smolenskaya Pl.M. SmolenskayaCuisine: European, Italian, Russian, $$$

William Bass9 Malaya Yakimanka St.M. TretyakovskayaCuisine: European, $$$

Wok Express26 Bolshaya Nikitskaya St.M. ArbatskayaCuisine: European, Asian, $$

X.O.25 str.1 Rusanova pr.M. SviblovoCuisine: European, Caucasian, $

Yapona Mama4 Smolensky Bulvar.M. SmolenskayaCuisine: Japanese, $$

Yar32/2, Leningradsky ProspectM. DinamoCuisine: French, Russian, $$$$

Yasumi 61a Profsoyaznaya ul.M. KaluzhskayaCuisine: Japanese, $$

Yoko5, Soimonovskiy prospektM. KropotkinskayaCuisine: Japanese, Author’s, $$$$

Yujung12, Krasnopresnenskaya NabereznayaM. Ulitsa 1905 GodaCuisine: Asian, Japanese, Korean, $$

Z-Lounge3 Sadovaya- Samotechnaya St.M. Tsvetnoy BulvarCuisine: Italian, $$$

Zafferano8/10, Novinsky BulevardM. SmolenskayaCuisine: Azeri, European, Japanese, $$$

Zucker12/2, Bolshoy Kozikhinsky PereulokM. TverskayaCuisine: Moroccan, Lebanese, Syrian, Persian, Bukharan, $$$

STARLITE DINER 8a, Strasnow BulevardM. PushkinskayaCuisine: American, $$ Moscow’s original diners still serving our favourite food

TORRO GRILL MultipleM. TaganskayaCuisine: European, $$$ Some of the best steaks in Moscow. Great service, great drinks and great prices

WINE RELIGIONMichurinsky Pr.16M. UniversitetCuisine: European Bistro $$$ New style of European bistro with creative food and a large wine selection.

Moscow Good Food

Club

Today, the British Business Club supports more than 600 British or affiliated people and companies with regular meetings and charitable events. We have strong local contacts and help where we can, if not directly, then at least with a guiding hand to a person, organisation or ministry. Russia continues to offer massive opportunities to British businesses, but it takes stamina to see them through. The BBC offers a small sanctuary of Britain to help in these times.

The Wirtschaftsclub Russland is an umbrella organisation for German- speaking business people in Russia. We created it because we saw approximately 5 years ago that there was a need to bring Germans, Swiss and Austrian business people together with the Russian business community in an informal way. We hold events throughout the year, our last one being ‘Building European Bridges’ on the 1st of April, when we invited Olympic Medalists Alexander Schachner and Wolfgang Fasching.

The Polish Business Club The Polish Business Club was created 15 years ago to develop contacts between Polish and Russian companies, and to provide business support; such as help in renting an apartment, how to get medical help and advice on where to go in your free time. The Club’s main mission is business development in Russia.

We organise social and professional events for the Italian community. We bring Italians together, help theirintegration when they move to the big city, facilitate the exchange of ideas, experience and opportunities between the Italian and other business communities. Any organisations and individual in Moscow that are either Italian or focus their business on Italy can join the club.

AEB is an active community of about 630 members, providing a network for sharing opinion and experience. The AEB is an advocate of its members’ opinions, generated in 40 industrial and crosssectorial committees, sub- committees and working groups. We develop cooperation between Moscow and European business circles through high profile conferences, briefings, round tables and other business events.

The French-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is aimed at developing economic cooperation between Russia and France. We organise a large variety of different events for our members to meet each other, such as sector committees, business presentations, B2B meetings, cultural events. We also provide our members with specific ‘technical’ services, such as Russian and French business language lessons or delivery of work permits for foreign employees as fast as possible.

The members of the Irish Business Club are a mix of both Russian and Irish professional people and private individuals. It takes some time to understand the Russian culture and to make friends. Russian people are very well educated and I truly believe our role is to transfer knowledge and understanding. This is sometimes a challenge for people.We try and help in these respects as much as we can.

The Danish Business Club has both corporate and private members, almost all of whom are based in or doing business in Moscow. About 80% of our subscribing members are Danish, but that doesn’t mean that 80% of all participants at all events are Danish. The club holds business events and also social events, such as the Stambord at the Restaurant Skandinavia once a month.

British Business ClubPresident: Don ScottWeb site: www.britishclub.ru

Wirtschaftsclub RusslandCEO: Dr Karin von BismarkWeb site: www.wirtschaftsclubrussland.org

Alexander Janeczek, Head of the Polish Business Club

Italian Business Club (ITAM)President: Giovanni Stornante

The Association of European Business (AEB)CEO: Dr. Frank SchauffWeb site: www.aebrus.ru

The Danish Business Club in MoscowChairman: Kasper DitlevsenDaytime job: CommercialDirector – Uhrenholt Russia & CIS Web site: www.dbcmoscow.camp9.org

French-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFR)General Director: Pavel ChinskyWeb site: http://www.ccifr.ru

The Irish Business ClubChairperson: Avril ConwayWeb site: www.moscowirishclub.ru

Business Clubs/Organisations

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Women’s Clubs/Associations

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The International Women’s Club of Moscow is a not-for-profit organisation which exists to promote friendship and co-operation between women and men of all nationalities. Explore our website to find out more about our events, how to join, and the charities we support.

International Women’s Club of Moscow (IWC)

President: Afrah Mohammed Alfaddaghi, the wife of The Ambassador of the State of Kuwait.Web Site: www.iwcmoscow.ru

SWEA is an international organisation, with 7,500 members in 34 countries all over the world. The fact that the 90-member strong Moscow chapter fits into a large international organisation, has many advantages.

The main purpose of the SWEA in Moscow is to act as a network for members, to support Swedish culture and Swedish languages. The majority of SWEA’s 90 members in Russia are accompanying spouses, even though the trend is that more and more women come here by themselves for career reasons working for Swedish companies.

The Swedish Women’s Educational Association (SWEA)

President: Ann Charlotte NorinWeb Site: www.moskva.swea.org

Presidents: Olya Kalmykova and Desiree Dekker Web Site: www.nlclubmoskou.nl

De Tulpen The Main goal of the Tulips is to provide a social platform for the Dutch speaking ladies in Moscow, do things of interest together and have fun! When you are abroad, one’s own culture becomes so much more important.

If anybody wants to connect with us, please find us on the Dutch Cub web site. If people want to go and visit museums, they can do that one their own. But if they want to speak their mother tongue with other people here in Moscow, then here we are.

BWC was set up in 2000. When British women arrive here they may need help and support from each other to understand basic things like where to shop for food, information about schools and to get to know other Brits. Mainly it is a help group, because it can be quite a shock settling here if you don’t speak Russian. Women generally introduce themselves before they move to Moscow. And we let the ladies know on what is going on in the city.

As long as you have a British passport yourself or you married to somebody who holds a British passport you can become the member of BWC. We have quite a few Russian wives who are members. Once a month we hold our monthly meeting at the British embassy.

We have a committee with ten members. We meet once a month and make decisions about what we are going to do during the months ahead.

Chairwoman: Fiona JohnstonWeb Site: www.bwcmoscow.org.uk

The British Women’s Club (BWC)

This is a new German-speaking group which organises meetings for German and Austrian women. Meetings are held every second Wednesday. The group supports newcomers and those who have been here longer.

The German’s Women’s Group

Founder: Susanne van AlphenEmail: [email protected]

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Community Services

List of CharitiesBelow is an incomplete list of Charities operating

in Moscow which foreigners are known to be involved with. If you wish to list a charity in future issues, please write to:

[email protected]

Kidsave

Contact: Alexander Mzhelsky, +7 985 970 9019, [email protected]

Kidsave® is a non-profit organization working in Russia since 1999. Our programs create strong and lasting connections between children and adults, with the goal of giving orphans and young people graduating from institutions opportunities to develop the skills necessary for a successful future.________________________

Downside Up

Contact: Elena Lubovina, Tel. +7 499 367 1000, +7 499 165 5536, [email protected]

About 2,500 children with Down syndrome are born in Russia annually. In 85% of such births, parents give their children up to maternity homes, often following doctors’ advice. The abandoned children are sent to state institutions with no chance of ever leaving them. But there is an alternative! The children can live in their families and join early

intervention and education programmes. They develop and learn under a guidance of special education professionals, and they can go on learning at pre-schools and schools. Children with Down syndrome, no matter how different, have a vast learning potential. Downside Up invites you to help make life better for people with Down syndrome________________________

Kitezh

Contact: Katya Gurkina, +7 916 975 1603, [email protected], www.kitezh.org/en/index.php

Kitezh is a network of therapeutic communities that give children from orphanages loving foster families.The aim is to create a developing environment for the education and care of orphans and children in crisis. The first Kitezh village is in Kaluga Region, 300 km south west of Moscow, and the second village, Kitezh-Orion, is located 60 km in the same direction.________________________

Musical Experimental Theatre ‘Open Art’Contact: [email protected], www.metopenart.com

Open Art was created in September 2001 for people with learning disabilities. Open Art is based on a unique combination of different art forms and directions:• Music• Dramatic art• Choreography• Art Design• Poetry• Dramatic improvisation• Ethnic artThe Musical Experimental Theatre Open Art is open for participants from Moscow and Moscow region.Open Art has developed methods which are being used in rehabilitation centres and institutions for people with learning disabilities. Open Art also organizes courses and seminars for specialists in Moscow. ________________________

Diema’s DreamContact: +7 495 942 4003, [email protected], [email protected]

Diema’s Dream was established in 1998 to provide financial, medical, and educational support for both physically and mentally disabled children in Russia. The larger goal is to support changes in society and legislation in order to create social and medical support programs, which would allow parents to raise their children at home rather than living in institutions.Who We Support:• Charity House, a Russian non-governmental organization (NGO) in Moscow. Charity House is the first and only one of its kind in Russia. The Moscow City government considers their work with disabled orphans to be a model for orphanage reform. Unfortunately, lack of funding has made it impossible for the government to apply the Charity House standards of child care to other orphanages• Association of Down’s Syndrome (ADS) program in Moscow.________________________

www.Moscowexpatlife.ruKittens to give away? Advertise

for free at

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Community Services

Organising an event? Advertise for free at www.Moscowexpatlife.ru

List of CharitiesMoscow Animals Contact: [email protected], www.moscowanimals.org

Moscow Animals – devoted to the welfare of homeless animals. To adopt a dog or cat or if you would like to help local animal shelters by making a donation or volunteering your time, please visit the Moscow Animal Website or email. ________________________

United WayContact: + 7 (495) 780 9718, [email protected]

The Fund supports charities offering programs aimed to meet the social needs of the following sections of society:• children at risk• disabled (children and adults)• refugees and homeless • elderly peopleOur mission is to foster responsible philanthropy in Russia by supporting local charity programs aimed at solving the most critical problems. The Fund is a permanent source of financing for efficient charitable organizations. Charities receiving funding have to demonstrate financial transparency to the highest possible degree. In turn, we guarantee to the donors full adherence by the foundation to Russian legislature and provide full financial and activity reports.________________________

MPC Social ServicesWeb Site: www.mpcss.org

MPC Social Services is one of the longest serving charitable organizations in Moscow. It is a registered Russian charitable organization and an established 501(c)3 non-profit in the United States that addresses poverty and hunger, and provides medical care and education for Moscow’s poor, including women, children, families, pensioners, economic migrants, and refugees. ________________________

Big Brothers Big Sisters

Contact: +7 (495) 500 40 42, www.nastavniki.org/ru

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Russia is a part of Big Brothers Big Sisters International, one of the most efficient mentoring programs for children. In Moscow BBBS helps children living in institutional care (orphanages) and disadvantaged children. A volunteer becomes a Big Brother or a Big Sister to a child, visits him or her once a week for at least one year. Studies show that children who have a mentor have higher self-esteem, are more stable emotionally, have better motivation to study and show more initiative. Currently there are 162 matches in Moscow. Please keep in mind that you need a good knowledge of Russian to become a Big Brother or Big Sister because the children don’t speak English very well.________________________

NastenkaContact: +7 (495) 980-53-77, +7 (495) 585-41-01, www.nastenka.ru

The charitable foundation helping children with cancer ‘Nastenka’ was founded in 2002. The main objective of the foundation is to increase the quality of diagnostics and treatment of children with oncological diseases, as well as to revive the tradition of charity in Russia. For 11 years, the foundation has helped thousands of sick children and purchased large number of expensive modern medical equipment for a hospital: two ventilators, an x-ray machine, a dialysis machine, blood separator and much more.________________________

OvercomingContact: Hugh Mc Earney, Secretary of the Irish Business Club via www.moscowirishclub.ru

This charity, which has been helping children for 20 years, uses horses as part of its therapy. Artem Ivanov, who is in charge of physiotherapy at the centre, and semi-paralyzed himself from the waist down, explains:“To control the movements of a horse as it moves means that the rider has to be able to control all the main muscle groups in his [the rider’s] legs, as well as his hands. This creates a training base for riders with any kind

of movement problems. A horse’s temperature is two degrees warmer than ours, and because of this, the rider’s muscles warm up and relax. All this has a tremendously positive effect on the rider’s coordination and balance.________________________

To Russia With LoveContact: www.torussiawithlove.ie

The very best of institutions, orphanages, large childrens homes, are likely to harm children and leave them ill prepared for life in the outside world. Ideally, all of these institutions should be phased out as soon as possible by means of extended family support, fostering, the provision of small family units, and lastly, adoption. However due to the number of children in State care in Russia, our immediate goal is to secure for each child, a long term stable solution whilst working side by side with the local administration. To Russia With Love is privileged to be allowed act as a guardian to many children without parents, who live in these very institutions. We work to build children’s self confidence, assist them to reach their full potential to become strong adults, successful parents, thus breaking the cycle of abandonment and in turn go forward as role models in society.

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Essential Information

Fire fighters 01Police 02Ambulance 03Emergency Gas Service 04Intercity phone calls 07Information 09Time (automatic clock) 100Emergency rescue service 937-9911_________________________________

Medical helpInternational SOS (The Moscow Clinic, 24 hour service to its clients) +7 495 937 6477

American Medical Centers (24 hours service) +7 495 933 7700

European Medical Center (French, British and American experts) +7 495 510 54 14

International crisis Line Tel: +7 926 1133373This is a free English-speaking telephone counseling service for expatriates in distress. Available 08:00-23:00 daily.In case you ever have to call the fire fighters, the police, or an ambulance, make sure that all family members can correctly pronounce your complete address in Russian.Post a piece of paper with your full address details and phone numbers in Russian and translation into your native language on the wall next to your phone.Also make sure that your children know how to reach you or another adult you trust in case they get lost or have an emergency.Note that in Russia there is difference between the police (militsiya) and the traffic police (GIBDD, formerly GAI). The police are not responsible for regulating traffic or handling car accidents, and the traffic police do not handle criminal offences that are unrelated to traffic.

Pharmacies (Apteki)Finding a pharmacy in Moscow is definitely not a problem. In fact, quite a number of them are open 24/7. The prices vary from one pharmacy to another, but the difference is not very significant.

What to do if you lose your passportYour first step should be to contact the nearest consular department for your country of origin. You will also have to go to a police station in order to obtain an official form confirming the loss or theft of your travel documents. We recommend, however, that you contact your embassy or consulate first, as they may be able to help non-Russian speakers with the necessary paperwork. In the case of a child’s lost passport, both parents must appear with the child.Once you have a new passport, take it, along with your plane ticket (if you do not have a return ticket, you will have to buy one before you are issued a new visa) and the police form to the company that issued your visa support documents. If you have a copy of your lost visa, you should also provide it. If the agency refuses to help you (although it is their legal obligation to do so), then your consulate should tell you what to do.Important:For ease of processing we recommend that the police report states that your documents were lost, not stolen.

Emergency Phone Numbers

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Getting to Moscow’s Airports

oscow is served by three major airports: Vnukovo, Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo. You can get a taxi (fares

range between 1,200 and 2,300 roubles, and generally, the service is good. The operators speak English, but the drivers may not. A taxi back can also be booked, and this saves a lot of hassle and possible agro when dealing with the taxi drivers at arrivals. All 3 airports are now served by ‘Aeroexpress’ shuttle trains. The service is good but not 24 hours a day.The three airports are:Sheremetyevo Airporthttp://www.svo.aero/en/+7 495 578 6565+ 8 800 100 6565+ 7 495 956 4666 for flight information Sheremetyevo has become much more accessible thanks to the opening of the Aeroexpress from Byelorusskaya Station. Aeroexpress costs 320 roubles and they leave every half an from 05:30-00:30. Long term parking costs 250 roubles a day according to the airport web site. If you are getting a taxi or driving your own car there during the day it is advisable to leave a minimum of two hours to get there from the centre.

Domodedovo Airporthttp://www.domodedovo.ru+7 495 720 6666 for flight informationGetting there:The Aeroexpress train departs from the left hand side of Paveltskaya

station. Single journey tickets come as flimsy paper receipts with bar codes in them. Don’t lose your ticket as you need it to get out of the station at the airport. Return tickets come as plastic cards. Tickets cost from 320 roubles. The journey takes 40-50 minutes, and they run reliably and regularly, every half an hour from 06:00-24:00. On the way home, this is a convenient way to beat the taxi mobs, however there is only the taxi if you arrive during the night. Leaving your car in the long-stay car park costs 600-700 roubles a day depending on the season, although information on the airport’s site is not clear on this score.

Vnukova Airporthttp://www.vnukovo.ru/eng/8 (495) 937-55-55Getting there:1. By airport bus from Yugo Zapadnaya Metro. You need bus 611, 611с or 611ф, (611f ) (express). You need

to listen carefully to the pre-recorded stop announcements. Your stop is Airport Vnukovo. Busses run every 10 minutes or so the journey to the airport takes about 30 minutes.You can also get a ‘marshrutka’, (mini-van taxi service) route 45 which will take you to the airport faster. Fare is 100 roubles plus 10 roubles for each piece of extra luggage.

2. From Metro Oktyabrskaya (the Circle Line) (subway) Route 705m ‘marshrutka’ runs between Metro Oktyabrskaya (Circle Line) and the Vnukovo airport. They take 35-40 minutes, although Moscow traffic is Moscow traffic, so at peak time leave at least an hour. Fare is 130 roubles plus another RUB 10 for every extra item of baggage. 3. By Aeroexpress Train From Metro Kievskaya (Metro) (exit to Kievsky Train Station).Once out on the Train Station forecourt, go round the corner of the Station terminal building and a few yards down on your left-hand side you will see the entrance portico of the Vnukovo Aeroexpress Terminal. Tickets cost 320 roubles for standard fare, and can be bought on line, if you read Russian. The journey takes 40 minutes.

M

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There are many different makes and models of pay machines which handle mobile phone payments in use in Moscow, however most of them work in the same way.

Step 1.

Identify the service you need:

The first ‘home’ screen will ask you what kind of services you want. The

Russian words: ‘ОПЛАТА УСЛУГ’ (payment for services) are what you want.

Step 2.

Identify the service you want:

You will be presented by an array of services which indicate the various services which the

company operating the terminal has signed up for. Fortunately, to keep things simple, the logos for the most popular mobile telephone companies are displayed on the top row.

Step 3.Having identified your

mobile telephone ‘operator’ by its logo, you will then be asked to key in your telephone number. Having

done this, you hit the button which says ‘ВПЕРЕД’ (NEXT). On most terminals this is coloured orange, but make sure you don’t inadvertently press any other buttons which may download various entertainment programmes onto your phone.

Step 4.Pay. You insert notes

into the machine and the amount you have paid comes up on screen minus commission. You then hit the button: ОПЛАТИТЬ (PAY).

That’s it!

Paying for your mobile telephone at a terminal

Attention Chefs/Restaurant Managers: Would you like to promote your skills and restaurant to our discerning members, please contact me for details! [email protected]

The Moscow Good Food Club has been created with intention to hold monthly dinners of high quality in some of Moscow’s better restaurants bringing together a diverse group of expats and Russians for a pleasant evening of excellent food, appropriate beverages and scintillating company!

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001 - Great Britain002 - Germany003 - Canada004 - USA005 - Japan006 - Spain007 - France008 - Belgium009 - Greece010 - Denmark011 - Italy012 - Luxembourg013 - Netherlands014 - Norway015 - Turkey016 - Australia017 - Austria018 - Algeria019 - Egypt020 - Rwanda*021 - Argentina022 - Afghanistan023 - Myanmar (the former Burma)024 - Bolivia025 - Brazil026 - Burundi027 - Ghana028 - Bangladesh029 - Guinea030 - Zambia031 - Peru032 - India033 - Indonesia034 - Jordan035 - Iraq036 - Iran037 - Ireland038 - Iceland039 - Cambodia (the former Kampuchea)040 - Kenya041 - Cyprus042 - Congo043 - Costa Rica044 - Kuwait045 - Laos047 - Lebanon

048 - Libya049 - Mali050 - Morocco051 - Mexico052 - Nepal053 - Nigeria054 - Venezuela055 - New Zealand056 - Pakistan057 - Burkina Faso*058 - Senegal*059 - formerly Syria. Now code 133 is used.060 - Somalia061 - Sudan062 - Sierra Leone063 - Thailand064 - Tanzania065 - Tunisia066 - Uganda067 - Uruguay068 - Philippines069 - Finland070 - Sri Lanka071 - Chad072 - Switzerland073 - Sweden074 - Ecuador075 - Ethiopia076 - Angola077 - Democratic Republic of Congo (the former Republic Zaire)078 - Colombia079 - Cameroon080 - Guinea-Bissau081 - Portugal082 - Bulgaria083 - Hungary084 - Vietnam086 - Poland087 - Korean People’s Democratic Republic (North Korea)088 - Cuba089 - Mongolia090 - China091 - Romania

092 - formerly Czechoslovakia (nowadays Czech Republic (148) and Slovakia (149))093 - Serbia094 - Benin095 - Gabon096 - Guyana*097 - Mauritania098 - Madagascar*099 - Malaysia100 - Niger*101 - Singapore102 - Togo*103 - Central African Republic (code 106 used earlier)104 - Jamaica*105 - Yemen106 - formerly Central African Republic. Now code 103 is used.107 - Palestine108 - Nicaragua109 - Mozambique110 - Equatorial Guinea111 - Sovereign Military Order of Malta (earlier code 111 belonged to Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (Comecon))112 - Malta113 - Cape Verde115 - Zimbabwe116 - United Arab Emirates117 - Côte d’Ivoire*118 - Namibia119 - formerly Republic of South Africa. Now code 137 is used.120 - Oman121 - Qatar122 - formerly Arab League. Now code 503 is used123 - formerly Liechtenstein124 - South Korea125 - Chile126 - Panama (earlier code 126 belonged to UNESCO; see code 512)

127 - Israel128 - FYR Macedonia (earlier code 128 belonged to EU)129 - Albania130 - formerly international organizations131 - Holy See (Vatican)132 - Lithuania133 - Syria (code 059 used earlier)134 - Estonia135 - Latvia136 - Bahrain137 - Republic of South Africa (code 119 used earlier)138 - Armenia139 - formerly Georgia. Now code 158 is used.140 - Saudi Arabia141 - Slovenia142 - Uzbekistan143 - Kyrgyzstan144 - Croatia145 - Azerbaijan146 - Ukraine147 - Moldova148 - Czech Republic149 - Slovakia150 - Belarus151 - Tajikistan152 - Turkmenistan153 - Kazakhstan154 - Guatemala155 - Bosnia and Herzegovina156 - Eritrea157 - Paraguay*158 - Georgia (code 139 used earlier)159 - Brunei-Darussalam160 - Gambia161 - Vietnam162 - Mauritius163 - Dominican Republic164 - Montenegro165 - South Ossetia166 - Abkhazia167 - Djibouti

They are Russian Diplomatic codes signifying countries. All vehicles registered with foreign embassies have to use them.

What do the numbers on the red number plates mean?

WINTER 2014/15


Restaura

nt

Listin

gs

Moscow Good Food Club at the Forte and Scandinavia

The Italian Community

Dr Frank Schauff (AEB)

Fit Out and Expats

The Chocolate Museum

Dancing in Moscow

Baku

The ItalianCommunity in Moscow

ITALIAN

EXPAT WINTER GOLF CHALLENGE

Recognised for achieving excellence

Due to unprecedented demand, The International School of Moscow continues to grow and expand. In September 2016, our fi rst cohort of students will enter universities of their choice around the world, having completed their Secondary education with us. As reported by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, we have been recognised for achieving excellence in all aspects of school life. We are pleased to off er high-quality, British-style education on our sites at both Krylatskoe and Rosinka. We strive to attain the highest standards in everything that we do.

The International School of Moscow

THE INTE

RNAT

IONAL SCHOOL O

F MOSCOW

DOCENDO DISCIMUS

WORLD CLASS EDUCATION AS A DOORWAY TO THE FUTURE

For More Information: www.internationalschool.ru+7 (499) 922 44 00 [email protected]


WIN

TER 2014/15


moscow expat life - issue 9 - winter 2014/15

Documents

cover winter

moscow construction

moscow expat life golf

aspects of school life

ism school flag project68

britishstyle education

secondary education

chocolate museum46