oD support open standards:

About Elena

Elena Strelnikova is a journalist based in Orenburg (Southern Russia)

Articles by Elena Strelnikova

Monday 2nd January

Russian provincial life: to be or not to be…single

Elena Strelnikova, 2 January 2012
It’s an age-old adage that things always look greener on the other side of the fence and this is particularly true of married women looking at single women’s life and vice versa. Elena Strelnikova gives a wry account of the problems encountered by single women in the Orenburg Region, where she lives
Monday 17th October

Russian regions: doing porridge

Elena Strelnikova, 17 October 2011
Life for ex-prisoners is not easy in any country in the world, but there are so few opportunities in provincial Russia that it is hardly surprising a high percentage of the prison population in the Orenburg region are habitual re-offenders, says Elena Strelnikova
Wednesday 14th September

Russian provincial life: down on the farm

Elena Strelnikova, 14 September 2011
In any country farming is a hard life, but in Russia the mass exodus to the cities of people of working age has had catastrophic results. Local authority programmes go someway to reversing the flow, but not enough. For many town dwellers the country is only for holidays, says Elena Strelnikova
Monday 11th July

Russian provincial media: what price freedom?

Elena Strelnikova, 11 July 2011
The degree of press freedom in Russia has fluctuated violently over the 20 years since the fall of communism. The situation in the Orenburg region, as everywhere, is a balancing act between principles and funding. And it’s always more difficult to rebuild what has been lost, laments Elena Strelnikova.

Thursday 2nd June

"Jacks-in-the-box": Orenburg’s migrant workers

Elena Strelnikova, 2 June 2011
Bordering Kazakhstan, Orenburg is a first destination for migrant workers from post-Soviet Central Asia. In her latest letter from the Russian Provinces, Elena Strelnikova considers the pluses and minuses of the visitors and how they integrate — or not — into the local society

Thursday 12th May

Elena Strelnikova

Elena Strelnikova, 12 May 2011

I'm almost 90 years of age! But, my god, don't I look well!? The wonders of modern medicine! How marvellous there's no more heart disease, cancer, and HIV. And how beautiful, happy everyone is... If you'd have said this to someone living in Russia forty years ago — how Russians would be full of serenity and love — you'd have written them off as crazy. Looking forward to my next forty years!

Tuesday 19th April

Keeping the Cossack legend alive - agreed?

Elena Strelnikova, 19 April 2011
The Cossacks have played an important part at various times in Russian history. Now their ranks are diluted by intermarriage and the admission of non-Cossacks. Elena Strelnikova ponders the attempts to keep Cossack traditions alive in Orenburg, South Russia.
Thursday 17th March

Pioneers, Lenin and the gingerbread men: letter from Orenburg

Elena Strelnikova, 17 March 2011
Over the last 20 years the teaching of history has changed dramatically in Russia. Today’s children seem not to know or care very much about their country’s past. Elena Strelnikova wonders how well they are being taught in school.

Monday 21st February

Mangoes can’t buy you love: letter from Orenburg

Elena Strelnikova, 21 February 2011
External factors like the Internet, post-Soviet economic upheaval and the availability of exotic fruit have given young Russians a different system of values and approach to life. Mother of three Elena Strelnikova gives a wry overview of parenting in provincial Russia.

Wednesday 17th November

Russian regional elections: business as usual

Elena Strelnikova, 17 November 2010
Voting at the recent local elections in Orenburg Oblast was listless and perfunctory. Voters don’t know the candidates, who in their turn make no attempt to remedy the situation, so why should people turn out to vote for them? Elena Strelnikova tries to make sense of the election process
Friday 20th August

Laid low by the heat

Elena Strelnikova, 20 August 2010
The Russian heat wave has been going on for weeks. From her dacha Elena Strelnikova gives a wry account of officials on freebies, water shortages and the catastrophic effects of the lasting heat on fruit, crops, milk yields and life in the Orenburg Region in general.
Friday 30th July

Summer days at the dacha

Elena Strelnikova, 30 July 2010
In theory, Russians can holiday abroad these days. In practice, most can't afford it. Still, there are the pleasures of summer days at the dacha. But what with falling water levels and paying beaches, things aren't what they used to be. It's hard work too, growing vegetables, grumbles Elena Strelnikova
Tuesday 4th May

Teaching History in Orenburg

Elena Strelnikova, 4 May 2010
Against a backdrop of an ever increasing politization of the Soviet past, journalist Elena Strelnikova returned to her old classroom. Her fly-on-the-wall account shows the contentious debates played through the eyes of 14-year-olds.
Thursday 25th February

Drug crisis on Russia’s borders

Elena Strelnikova, 25 February 2010
Russia’s drugs problem has reached crisis point in Orenburg Region. It borders on Central Asia and is used as a transit point. Government measures against trafficking and addiction are hampered by lack of money and official attitudes
Monday 21st December

Perm blaze sets Russia alight

Elena Strelnikova, 21 December 2009
The recent catastrophic fire at the Lame Horse nightclub in Perm grabbed national headlines. Local authorities all over Russia are suddenly having to get their act together, says Elena Strelnikova
Wednesday 9th December

Panicking about swine flu in Orenburg

Elena Strelnikova, 9 December 2009
The region is gripped by swine flu panic, much of it orchestrated, in the opinion of Elena Strelnikova. But every cloud has a silver lining – we’re all having unscheduled holidays
Syndicate content