The situation started back in World War II. Some 20 million Soviet people died during that conflict and most of them were men. This started a domino effect since it created a huge vacuum for future generations of men who were needed to fill existing dangerous jobs. This in turn further increased the already high mortality levels for Russian Men. Subsequent conflicts from the 1950′s on into modern times continue to take a huge toll on these men.

This imbalance is further compounded by rampant alcohol and drug abuse with large populations of Russian Men who are not able nor qualified to have stable relationships and raise families.

Another key factor contributing to this is the mandatory 2 year military service which all young Russian men must serve typically starting at the age of 18. While these men are serving their country they are not allowed to start a relationship and this puts additional strain demographically on the population imbalance between men and women.

Finally many of these Russian men upon completing their service move away from their original homes searching for good jobs in larger cities while Russian women traditionally stay near their families.

These population imbalances become more dramatically pronounced with age since Russian men have a very high mortality rate in comparison to Russian women.

o Moscow- Russia’s gigantic capital. It has numerous tourist attractions for those that crave for a bit of adventure.
o Irkutsk – this popular Siberian city is located at a distance of merely an hour of the breathtaking Lake Baikal on the Trans-Siberian Railway.
o Kazan – for those traveling after a bit of research on Russian history, this capital of Tatar culture offers immense attraction and is in the very center of the Volga Region.
o Saint Petersburg – the city boasts of containing one of the world’s best museums, the Hermitage. This historical city is also home to a unique open air museum, its city center. All this makes St. Petersburg a popular choice amongst tourists.
o Sochi – hosts to the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, this is Russia’s favorite Black Sea beach resort. It is a virtually unknown destination but that will change drastically after the Olympics.
o Volgograd – once known as Stalingrad, it is the sight of the final deciding battle of World War II. A huge war memorial is erected here to commemorate those that lost their lives.
o Lake Baikal – or as is affectionately called the “pearl of Siberia” it is arguably the world’s deepest and biggest lake. 25-30 million years old and home to 2500 animal species it is the perfect destination for those who enjoy nature and crave it.
o Trans-Siberian Railway – seen by some as the longest train track in the world, a tour aboard the train means going all around Asia as well as a good part of Europe.

Several of the travel restrictions imposed specially during the Cold war were lifted in the 1990s making it possible to get a true flavor of the picturesque country. The Siberian town of Ulan Ude is a must see. The restored Tibetan Buddhist Monastery is located here.

Traveling to Russia is quite easy. With over 70 international airports, getting a flight that matches your schedule is no problem. Due to the competition between airlines, cheap airfare is easily available. Daily flights are available to Moscow and St. Petersburg from all over Europe as well as North America and the U.A.E.

There has been a new trend in the behaviour and approach of modern Russia towards foreign tourism. Once hostile to the curious visitors, it now accepts them with open arms.

The principal feature of medical education in Russia for both the Faculties of curative medicine and pediatrics is the introduction of a new approach to the training of internists and pediatricians that implies a two-year continuing primary specialization, one year while at the institution and the other year after graduation. The nature of medical education in russia and its curriculum at these Faculties is designed to cover all the general medical education within five years.

During the third, fourth, and fifth years, students perform clinical work as nurses, feldshers, and clinical assistants. In the sixth year, medical students take their primary specialization in one of the following clinical subjects: Faculty of Curative Medicine (surgery, obstetrics, and gynecology) of Faculty of Pediatrics (pediatrics, including child infectious diseases, and pediatric surgery, including orthopedics). Sub specialization in clinical areas is not an option during the undergraduate program, as profound knowledge of the main clinical subjects is believed to be fundamental for adequate training of doctors.

After 6 years of medical education in Russia, students pass a state examination according to the curriculum, obtain a Doctor’s Diploma, and complete a one year internship in medical units under the supervision of specialists. Instruction in ophthalmology, otolaryngology, dietology, climatotherapy, endocrinology, clinical biochemistry, physiotherapy, and such aspects of surgery as oncology and neurosurgery is provided by the appropriate departments.

The instructional methodology in Russian medical schools includes lectures by the leading specialists and regular practical classes throughout the course of studies.

Training programs at medical schools in Russia are adjusted to the needs of population in accordance with health priorities. Thus, when in the 1950s the non-communicable diseases became a real health problem; these subjects were strengthened and introduced more widely into curricula. When the role of primary health care became more evident in the 1970s, medical education in Russia became adapted to this target-problem.

In Russian medical schools following the annual examinations at the end of the fourth and fifth years, senior students of all Faculties usually spend the breaks between semesters in professional training. Students are taught to use their knowledge, develop their professional skills, master up-to-date methods of diagnostics and treatment, and become familiar with all other work they will do in the future. It should be emphasized that at least 25 percent of the time within the training program of all specialties is devoted to practice at the primary health care level.

Finally after completion of medical education in Russia, students must pass state examinations in general and special medical subjects (depending on the orientation of a particular Faculty) to receive a diploma as physician of general medicine at the Faculty of Curative Medicine (VRAC), as pediatrician at the Faculty of Pediatrics, as sanitary officer at the Faculty of Hygiene, as stomatologist at the Faculty of Stomatology, or as pharmacist at the pharmaceutical institution or faculty.

Annually, about 60,000 students graduate from Russian medical schools. – Professor Felix Vartanian, MD Vice-rector of Russian Academy for Advanced Medical Studies December 2008

In this article, Matthew Francis, a leading expert on Russian Business, looks at just some of the ways that Russian businesses ensure they stay one step ahead of their competitors. This advice is not to be followed by anyone thinking of setting up an office out there however, but it is certainly valuable information to be aware of!

WARNING, CONTINUE READING WITH CAUTION!

These are the top 5 ways to stay ahead of the pack when doing business in Russia.

Secret1

Make sure the business is not in your own name. Ideally find a student who has no idea what the document are that he or she is signing. Then if your company loses money or ‘forgets’ to pay its tax, the authorities won’t come and find you.

Secret 2

Hire the most attractive woman you can find, dress her in a short skirt and make sure she knows just one phrase in English, ‘Hello, is there anything you need?’ That’s all she needs to know.

Secret 3

Find the highest government official you can. Buy him a large German motor-car and pay for his children to go to a top school in England. Then, most important here, make sure he knows he owes you a BIG favour.

Secret 4

Meet up with foreign politicians, ideally those that have failed in a number of political roles. Convince them that you are really important in Russia by taking them for a ride on your BIG boat. The watch the contracts come flooding in, literally.

Secret 5

Gain a competitive advantage. Forget the management theory and throw away the textbooks. The only way to ensure your business is more successful than your competitors is to get rid of them. If Secret 3 and 4 have been achieved, there is nothing to worry about.

To me the highlight of my visit to Suzdal was the open air Museum Of Wooden Architecture where one can see sample of traditional Russian wooden buildings – houses, churches, windmills, – most of which are built without a single nail! Also, I was thrilled to walk the streets that I saw so many times in Russian films – Suzdal’s sights are very popular with filmmakers when they need to portray the old Russia. So, if you plan to visit Suzdal too, keep in mind that it is quite a popular town, so it’s better to book a hotel there as early as possible in advance, but don’t worry much as it’s not a big problem to find a place to stay in Suzdal. Also, if you need a visa to Russia, you should obtain it before you travel.

Ownership of Russian assets has not been made possible until the legislation of the Land Code of 2001, which gives the local Russian residents and foreign investors the right to own and use the properties they bought. Why is there a great interest in investing on properties in Russia? It is because despite the high prices of property purchase, you can be assured of attractive gross income on selling property in Russia or renting the property.

What property to buy and where is the place to buy a property for an assured good return of investment? Apartments in Russia are probably some of the best property investments you can get, especially if you can find a property for sale. The best place to buy a property is in Moscow, which is the center of business and trade of Russia, though prices are more expensive in Moscow than other Russian cities.

You can also choose to buy a property in equally commercially-active but less expensive cities, such as St. Petersburg. However, despite assets investment in Russia may sound good, it is not easy to make the necessary procedures in buying and selling a property in Russia. Both the buyer and the seller have to present the required documents, such as apartment titles and floor plans among others, and make a preliminary agreement that characterizes the conditions of all the future transactions of the buyer and the seller. Then, they can sign a contract for sale with notary after the payment has been made.

You may even sell or lease their assets in Russia without really living or being there, but by just looking trusted Irish agents in Russia. You can sell your property through the real estate websites, for instance, ExtraSales, which caters mostly to Russian buyers. ExtraSales has established direct links all throughout Russia, as well as allowing to promote on Russian real estate websites. However, you cannot fully entrust your property in the real estate websites and property agents, and expect that your property will be seen and bought by prospective buyers. Although this may also be helpful, you should also find a real estate agent who has the expertise especially on the Russian property market to be able to sell your property in Russia.

Whenever you’re staying in a new country, it goes without saying that you need to get the best advice in terms of the areas that are suitable for visitors, both in terms of safety and pleasure. If you want to make the most of your time in these fantastic places you’ll naturally want to choose your accommodation well. Using online tourist resources is a good way to ensure you’re making an informed decision about where to stay.

Visiting Russia is certainly a way to expose yourself to a culture that is markedly different to what you may be accustomed to in the West, however Russia today has excellent facilities for tourists, with a great range of places to stay offering the full market range in terms of cost, location and type of accommodation. Given the excellent choice, it pays to compare the available choices before taking a final decision, which is easily done online.

Moscow
Accommodation in Moscow is available with a wide selection of options. Many different types of accommodation in Moscow are currently available for booking, from luxury hotels through to budget hostels and everything in between. Moscow’s many different areas offer distinct environments for your stay, so it’s worth considering which part of the city you’d like to use as your visiting base, perhaps by looking at the attractions you particularly want to see while you’re in the city.

Whether you’re looking for 5 star or more basic accommodation in Moscow, it’s well worth taking the time to look at the range of packages that are available, and there are a host of online resources that can help you to navigate these choices.

Saint Petersburg
Accommodation in Saint Petersburg also provides a great range of options in terms of budget, style and location. Saint Petersburg is an extremely beautiful city with many places to see, and each district has its own unique character to act as the backdrop for your experience. As with Moscow, accommodation in Saint Petersburg caters for many tastes and requirements, so comparing what choices are available for your budget is a good way to start.

Your accommodation in Saint Petersburg will naturally have an impact on the enjoyment of your stay. Investing a little time in looking at the different options and areas may greatly enhance the amazing experiences you’ll have in this wonderful city.

A trip to Russia is a unique way to spend your time, and the country today offers a great set of choices to the travel market, particularly in the magnificent cities of Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

1. Yaroslavl. In the year 2010 Yaroslavl will celebrate its millennium. Yaroslavl, which is older than some modern countries in the world, remains a unique city with its own peculiar traditions and character. It is ancient and modern at the same time. Its look reflects the history of the whole country as well as the history of many Russian towns. Yaroslavl is a hometown of the national symbol -Russian Bear. According to legend, when tsar Yaroslav the Wise first came to the place where he later founded the town, the local inhabitants let a bear out of his cage to chase him away, and Yaroslav killed it with his halberd. Visit Russian Bear’s house and have dinner at traditional restaurant, which is not really popular among bears but among people like Tsar Yaroslav who like to hunt Russian bears.

2. Saint-Petersburg is one of the world’s most beautiful cities and has all the ingredients for an unforgettable travel experience: high art, lavish architecture, wild nightlife, an extraordinary history and rich cultural traditions that have inspired and nurtured some of the modern world’s greatest literature, music, and visual art. From the mysterious twilight of the White Nights to world-beating opera and ballet productions on magical winter evenings, Saint-Petersburg charms and entices in every season.

3. Kazan is an Islamic capital of Russia and Tatar people. The Kazan Kremlin was built by Russian architects after Ivan the Terrible seized Kazan in 1552. Kazan’s famous attraction is also located inside the Kremlin walls: The legendary Soyembika Tower, named after a princess who lived in the 16th century. According to one of the many legends, Ivan the Terrible wanted to marry Soyembika after having conquered the city. Soyembika agreed, but only under the condition that the tsar would build a tower higher than any other building in the Kremlin within seven days. Ivan the Terrible fulfilled her request, erecting a tower of 59 meters. To avoid marrying Ivan, Soyembika climbed the tower and jumped down from the very top, killing herself. Over the years, the tower slowly bended, and only special constructions, could fortify the building. It is now stable, though with a tilt of about two meters. Also magnificent mosque Kul Sharif in city of Kazan is one of the most beautiful and most northern mosques of the world. It is constructed by thousand-year anniversary of city of Kazan.

4. Kamchatka was discovered by Russian Cossacks over 3 hundred years ago. However, even today Russians know very little about it, to say nothing about the rest of the world where most people have hardly heard of Kamchatka. This century the airplanes have made Kamchatka closer to Europe and America though not more available. The Valley of Geysers is the only geyser field in Eurasia (apart from the Mutnovsky geyser field) and the second largest concentration of geysers in the world. This 6 km long basin with approximately ninety geysers and many hot springs is situated on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East, predominantly on the left bank of the ever-deepening Geysernaya River, into which geothermal waters flow from a relatively young strato-volcano, Kikhpinych. It is part of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, which, in turn, is incorporated into the World Heritage Site “Volcanoes of Kamchatka”. Kamchatka is probably the only place where the saying “Bears walk on the streets of Russia” is true…

5. Karelia is a strikingly beautiful land of “midnight sun”, the land of white nights. Here forests spread for many miles; there are thousands of big and small forest lakes surrounded by deep swamps or picturesque wild rocks. This is the land where you meet industrious and hospitable people. The two largest lakes in Europe – Onega Lake and Ladoga Lake – are situated on Karelian territory. One of the mysteries of the Onega Lake is located on the Besov Nos (Demon’s Nose) cape. Here some pictures painted by the people of the late Stone Age have survived. There are a lot of outstanding landscapes on the territories of almost a million hectares of specially protected natural territories: national parks
“Paanajarvi”, “Vodlozerky” and “Kalevalsky”, nature park “Valaamsky Archipelago”, preserves “Kivach” and “Kostomukshskiy”, other reserves
and nature monuments.

6. Sochi is one of Russia’s most popular travel destinations. If you one imagines a place where the sea is bathed with golden light every sunset – a place where the sands and pebbles of the beach can be enjoyed with a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and where you can enjoy almost every luxury that matters – you will most likely be picturing Sochi. This is one of Russia’s finest and grandest cities, a place where time stops ticking as you while away your days at one of the many fine spas, mineral baths or sanatoriums. With the unique sub-tropical climate, top-class sports facilities and well-developed infrastructure that Krasnaya Polyana and Sochi have to offer, the 2014 Winter Olympics to be held in Russia are sure to be a huge success – to the benefit of all involved.

7. Pereslavl-Zalessky is one of the ancient cities of central Russia. The town was founded in 1152 by prince Yury Dolgoruky. It is located halfway between Moscow and Yaroslavl, about 130 km North-East of Moscow on the bank of Pleshcheevo Lake. Here, in 1693, young Peter the Great constructed a “funny fleet” which became a prototype of the first Russian fleet on the Baltic sea. Pereslavl-Zalessky is the southernmost town of Yaroslavl region and belongs to the Golden Ring of the historical cities of Russia. The pearl of its architecture is the Cathedral of Transfiguration of the Saviour is the oldest surviving monument in Central Russia.Pereslavl-Zalessky is rich in architectural monuments of XII-XIX centuries. At present, there are four monasteries and about twenty churches in the town.

8. Moscow, founded in 1147, is the political and financial capital of modern Russia famous for Red Square with the unique onion domes of
St.Basil’s Cathedral, the magnificent walls of the Kremlin and the fabulous Armory Museum.

9. Velikiy Novgorod is one of the most ancient cities in Russia and located in the North-West, near the site where the Volkhov river takes its waters from Lake Ilmen, and emerged as a political center of Slavic and Fino-Ugric tribes in the mid-9th century, while as a town it was formed in the middle of the 10th century. The history of Novgorod is closely linked with all major stages in the life of Russian state. The adoption of Christianity at the close of the tenth century turned Novgorod into a powerful ecclesiastical center. The efforts of Novgorod Bishops in spreading and promoting the Orthodoxy were given high credit in the mid-12th century when they were elevated to the ranks of Archbishops which made the Bishops Chair of Novgorod most powerful in the Russian Orthodoxy.

10. Volga is one of the greatest rivers of the World and a symbol of Russia. “Mother Volga” or “Mother river” symbolized huge open spaces of the country, its image inseparably merged with concepts of freedom and will. Referred to as the Silk Road City in Russia, Astrakhan on the delta of the Volga river, is a destination for tourists interested in wooden architecture, authentic provincial Russia, and history of Russia. Astrakhan is Russia’s gateway to the Northern Caucasus and also connects Russia to Iran, via the Caspian Sea. Every Russian travel destination is unique and will provide an unforgettable experience that will stay in traveler’s heart forever.