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  1. Politics
1 September 2009updated 27 Sep 2015 2:29am

Are you desirable?

Only if you're friends with loads of oligarchs, obviously

By Sophie Elmhirst

This is an excellent one from Pravda. It is fast becoming my favourite Russian newspaper. Why? I’ll tell you why.

a) It has a whole section wonderfully called Hotspots and Incidents, generally listing horrific happenings and an uncanny amount of explosions happening around the place. I mean, elsewhere you might just call that news. But not at Pravda. Also, why call it news when you could call it Hotspots and Incidents? These guys have a sense of drama and event, and I like that.

b) Sometimes there are headlines like Sporadic Prostitutes Conquer Moscow.

c) They run loads of photo stories, such as Cyclops Cats, Two-Headed Birds and Monster Dogs.

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On top of all this, there is this story — unequivocally titled Russia’s Most Desirable Single Women, based on “women’s fortune and their celebrity status”. Check them out. My favourites thus far are Alina Kabayeva, friends with Putin; Alyona Akhmadullina, friends with “many Russian oligarchs”; and Ksenia Sukhinova (you must remember Ksenia — she’s a major hero of this blog AND the face of the Eurovision Song Contest). And then of course’s there’s the other Ksenia — oh, how the Ksenias must want to scratch each other’s eyes out — Ksenia Sobchak, who is, says Pravda, “an analogue to Paris Hilton”. Can you possibly imagine a more distinguished tagline to your identity?

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Select and enter your email address Your weekly guide to the best writing on ideas, politics, books and culture every Saturday. The best way to sign up for The Saturday Read is via saturdayread.substack.com The New Statesman's quick and essential guide to the news and politics of the day. The best way to sign up for Morning Call is via morningcall.substack.com Our Thursday ideas newsletter, delving into philosophy, criticism, and intellectual history. The best way to sign up for The Salvo is via thesalvo.substack.com Stay up to date with NS events, subscription offers & updates. Weekly analysis of the shift to a new economy from the New Statesman's Spotlight on Policy team. The best way to sign up for The Green Transition is via spotlightonpolicy.substack.com
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