Another reason for Sarah Palin to keep an eye on Russia
RFE/RL’s Power Vertical blog reports on one of the recent "insensitive elite" scandals coming out in the Russian media: [T]he story that is most galling and probably holds the most symbolism emerged on January 9 from the snow-covered mountains of Russia’s Altai region. On that day, a helicopter with three crew and eight passengers crashed ...
RFE/RL's Power Vertical blog reports on one of the recent "insensitive elite" scandals coming out in the Russian media:
[T]he story that is most galling and probably holds the most symbolism emerged on January 9 from the snow-covered mountains of Russia's Altai region. On that day, a helicopter with three crew and eight passengers crashed on a mountainside, setting off an intense, two-day search-and-rescue operation.
Only four people survived the incident, and among the dead were President Dmitry Medvedev's representative to the State Duma, Aleksandr Kosopkin; the deputy head of the presidential-administration department on domestic affairs, Sergei Livshin; and Viktor Kaimin, chairman of the Altai Republic's Committee on the Preservation and Exploitation of Natural Resources. The helicopter was operated by Gazpromavia, one tentacle of the state-controlled natural-gas conglomerate that Medvedev headed before becoming president.
RFE/RL’s Power Vertical blog reports on one of the recent "insensitive elite" scandals coming out in the Russian media:
[T]he story that is most galling and probably holds the most symbolism emerged on January 9 from the snow-covered mountains of Russia’s Altai region. On that day, a helicopter with three crew and eight passengers crashed on a mountainside, setting off an intense, two-day search-and-rescue operation.
Only four people survived the incident, and among the dead were President Dmitry Medvedev’s representative to the State Duma, Aleksandr Kosopkin; the deputy head of the presidential-administration department on domestic affairs, Sergei Livshin; and Viktor Kaimin, chairman of the Altai Republic’s Committee on the Preservation and Exploitation of Natural Resources. The helicopter was operated by Gazpromavia, one tentacle of the state-controlled natural-gas conglomerate that Medvedev headed before becoming president.
Over the next few weeks, details of the incident began to trickle out. First, it was revealed that the men died while engaged in the "sport" of shooting at game animals with powerful rifles from the side of the helicopter. A few media outlets published stories about how popular this "sport" is among Russia’s ruthless rich and how organizing such junkets is one way Altai and other regions keep their budgetary needs near the top of the Kremlin’s agenda.
Hunting from helicopters is, technically, illegal in Russia, but the rich evidently prefer to bag their mountain goats without getting their loafers wet.
This kind of thing usually doesn’t look good during times of economic hardship. Can’t help thinking that these guys should have avoided scandal by hopping over the Bering Streit to Sarah Palin’s Alaska where helicopter hunting is not only allowed, but financially encouraged.
Joshua Keating was an associate editor at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @joshuakeating
More from Foreign Policy
What Putin Got Right
The Russian president got many things wrong about invading Ukraine—but not everything.
Russia Has Already Lost in the Long Run
Even if Moscow holds onto territory, the war has wrecked its future.
China’s Belt and Road to Nowhere
Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy is a “shadow of its former self.”
The U.S. Overreacted to the Chinese Spy Balloon. That Scares Me.
So unused to being challenged, the United States has become so filled with anxiety over China that sober responses are becoming nearly impossible.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
