The news like we don’t see it: RIA Novosti, Russian news

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The top of the Novosti page is pretty indicative. It stars with a picture of a stealth capable sub delivered to the Iranian navy, and the “News in Arabic” link. There are articles on Putin, articles about Putin… missile news, and the Russian navy is apparently tired of rusting and has decided to do something else.

Russia’s demand for some respect after the disgraceful horrors of the interim period has generated a bloody strong reaction. The echoes of the Soviet era are easy enough to spot, but there’s a different vibe. These aren’t geriatric Party hacks. This is about position, pride, and assertion.


A few examples: Notable is the short piece on the sale of modern tanks to India. Russia intends to supply India with 347 T90-S tanks, with the interesting terms that India will build 1000 of the tanks in kit form for Russia. The T90-S is the most recent of the main battle tank species that started with the T72. They’re pretty demanding things to produce.

It indicates that India’s military production capabilities are capable, which India hasn’t been advertising. It also affects the regional situation with Pakistan.

In the lower article categories are image galleries including the crowning Miss Russia 2007. Above her the Federal Security Service is celebrating its 90th anniversary, (bringing you fun since 1917) and below her the Russian Navy is getting modernized, very much so, apparently, no rust in sight.

The politics of Europe and Russia are all over the page. There’s a poll regarding the likely results of Russia’s moratorium on the Conventional Forces Europe agreement are interesting. See if you can guess what the majority think.

This is English language stuff for an English language speaking audience. It's targeted, and it's hardly an exercise in reticence.

It’d be wrong to write it off as propaganda, though. As a form of reincarnation, modern Russia is a pretty impressive consistent performer. This is largely in your face material, all part of the new game of chess. It's pretty well done, too.

Oddly, given the content, the English language site only contains an abbreviated part of the actual Novosti news site. The full English language version is a pay site.

Getting other people to pay you, for your own public relations, is a little cynical, but there’d be a market. I’ve bookmarked the site because it’s a piece of history.

It’s not often you see an idea reborn.