FROM RUSSIA WITH KALASHNIKOV

Where would the war on terror be without the faithful Kalashnikov? Since it rolled into production in the 50s, the AK-47 is the best selling and affordable assault rifle ever produced. This has led to it being synonymous with poor freedom fighters and terrorists the world over. It is hard to imagine an extremist propaganda video without at least one person holding one of these fearsome icons; simply seeing a drawing of the weapon is likely to stir patriotic blood on both sides of the conflict.

It would be nice to think that the Kalashnikov was an iconography that Russia (a member of the UN Security Council) would like to move away from. Since 1991, the successor state of the USSR - the Russian Federation – has enjoyed a colourful political and social upheaval.

Of course for the Russian people this is nothing new. Every generation since Peter the Great and the founding of St Petersburg has lived through similar extremities.Cities built on bones, violently resolved protests, mutinies and revolutions; the cold Russian winter seems to be a season that can not be abated.

Boris Yeltsin – the first democratically elected Russian president – took great lengths to attempt to warm his country. Despite opponents nearly impeaching him, Yeltsin managed to sell and privatise the previously communist states industries. Consortiums responsible for totalitarian socialist policies and enforcement were also considered illegal and disbanded despite a military showdown resulting in the Russian Constitutional Crisis of 1993 and civilian casualties. In total somewhere between 300 and 2,000 people were killed in the conflict.

Putin - Russia’s latest president - is enjoying a popularity rating that at 70% would leave most politicians standing by-the-way-side and asking for directions in the best Bond villain accent they could muster. Despite this the current Russian regime is criticized for corruption and media manipulation by Western countries, particularly former cold war enemies - the United States.

Despite faltering shortly after the change over - the collapse of the Iron Curtain and Russia’s new and friendly approach to capitalism, commercialism and Johnny foreigner has lead to a boom in Russian economy and military spending. This means that a great deal of jobs have been made available in the main industries of metallurgy and petroleum. More and more people are travelling to Russia for work and are becoming expats in the process.

If you are one such expat then by now you are likely to be thinking about how your little buddy is going to be feeling about moving to the home of Vodka and Communism.

Russia is the largest single country in the world… by a factor of 2. Due to this cultural experiences and climate are going to vary depending on where you choose to call your home from home. For an example of what to expect lets have a little look at Moscow.

In Moscow you should have no problem finding healthcare for your little friend. There are plenty of well educated veterinarians available and many will even make home visits. People like their pets in Russia and it shows. It maybe difficult to find such services outside of the capital and major cities but we are confident you will not be left wanting for medical help when your little fuzzball can be described as something a decidedly more fluid, sticky and smelly ball. Food and treats should not be very hard to locate either.

Unfortunately for Rover he may not be able to roam far unattended if you live in the city center. Most of the city is made up of flats and letting the dogs roam through the garbage littered and fast moving traffic would probably not be advised. If you yourself are an occasional member of the fast moving traffic you are unlikely to find that a park is never more then 15 minuets away.

It is likely that your animals will adjust far quicker then you. If you do get home sick however you can always check out the Scandinavia restaurant on Tverskaya street. With its summer deck and courtyard surrounded with large trees - which muffles out a lot of the street noise - you will be able to relax and chat to the other expats that congregate there. During the winter the dining is good inside.

Despite Russia’s questionable past; it’s magical, mystical and above all down right interesting character will ensure that you have an affair to remember.