It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the efforts of professional diplomats at this challenging moment. It is they who enable the continuation of dialogue between nations even in the most difficult circumstances. Our guest today is Igor Kalabukhov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Russian Federation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
– Igor Andreyevich, first of all, I would like to thank you for taking the time to give this interview to our publication. My first question is about the relations between Russia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which have been developing over a long period of time. To be precise, Russia recognized the independence of BiH in 1992, and diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1996. What is the current state of affairs, given the challenges of these turbulent times?
– It is difficult to draw parallels between Russia’s relations with Bosnia and Herzegovina and other bilateral ties as our work here has two dimensions. In addition to developing our bilateral relations, the Embassy is also engaged in the Bosnian settlement, which essentially involves international monitoring of peace and stability in BiH in accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country with a unique political structure. It is impossible to fully explain its uniqueness in a single interview. In brief, the country currently functions under the Peace Agreement, and its Constitution is one of the annexes to that treaty. It ensures a balance of interests of the three constituent nations: Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats. Representatives of other nations live here too, of course. BiH is made up of two entities – the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which consists of 10 cantons, and Republika Srpska (RS). The main government authority is the Presidency, which consists of one representative from each constituent people; they rotate in the position of Chairman every eight months. Due to this structure, the country has a total of 13 parliaments and 15 prime ministers.
The second unique feature of BiH is its limited sovereignty. The Peace Agreement stipulated the establishment of the post of the so-called High Representative (HR), whose appointment requires the UN Security Council’s consent. Unfortunately, during the post-conflict period, this figure has transformed from a moderator of political processes into a so-called “Lord Protector” – in fact, a dictator who can make a decision to remove an official of any level or impose any law. Furthermore, the current so-called High Representative, Christian Schmidt, is not recognized as such, because he failed to receive the UN Security Council’s approval.
As one of the guarantors of the Dayton Agreement, Russia consistently works towards achieving inter-ethnic reconciliation in the country and actively participates in the work of international agencies, the most important of which is the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC). In the last few years, we have steadily demonstrated the destructiveness of external management. We consider the actions of the Western powers and their representatives in BiH as neocolonial in nature and advocate closing the Office of the High Representative and transferring full authority to the peoples of the country themselves.
– Russian readers are primarily interested in Republika Srpska. This summer, a branch office of the Russian Embassy in BiH was opened in Banja Luka. How will this affect the work of Russian diplomats, and what are the plans for future development?
– Due to historical traditions and deep spiritual and cultural ties, we maintain particularly close and friendly relations with Republika Srpska within Bosnia and Herzegovina. We do our best to strengthen our ties in all spheres – politics, economy, and culture.
Representatives of Republika Srpska regularly participate in major Russian forums, such as the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the Russian Energy Week, the St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum, the World Youth Festival, gatherings of the “For the Freedom of Nations” international movement, and many others. President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on numerous occasions. We maintain regular contacts between our Parliaments.
Currently, it is the representatives of Republika Srpska in the state agencies of BiH who prevent the country from joining anti-Russian sanctions. It is due to the Serbs that BiH remains a friendly country to Russia. We have a visa-free regime for citizens with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Every year, the “Immortal Regiment” march is traditionally held in Banja Luka and many other cities of Republika Srpska. In Banja Luka, the procession is led by the President, government ministers, and members of parliament. The Central Radio Television channel of Republika Srpska – the only one in the region to do so – provides live coverage of the Victory Parade from Red Square preceded by an address by the Russian Ambassador to the citizens of the Republic. I have been giving this speech for three years now, and I must say it is an amazing feeling of deep connection to our common heritage and the ideals of anti-fascism.
As cultural and humanitarian issues fall under the authority of the entities under the BiH Constitution, our primary cooperation with Republika Srpska is concentrated in these areas. In contrast to the Federation of BiH, children in primary and secondary schools in Repulbika Srpska learn Russian, now about 10,000 pupils. Almost every university in the Republic has Russian language and studies centers. The two main universities of Republika Srpska – in Banja Luka and East Sarajevo – have signed cooperation agreements with thirty and fifteen Russian universities, respectively.
Since 2012, a branch of the “Russkiy Mir” Foundation has been operating in Banja Luka. Cooperation agreements have also been signed between the National Theatre of RS and the Alexandrinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg; between the Library for Foreign Literature and the central libraries of Banja Luka and East Sarajevo; between the Russian and RS Academies of Sciences; and between the RS Institute of Historical Sciences and the Russian Historical Society. For two years now, the Kinoteka of Republika Srpska has been organizing a Serbian Film Week in Russia.
Russian-Serbian friendship societies have been operating for decades in such cities as Banja Luka, Bijeljina, Bileća, Bratunac, Doboj, Pale, Prijedor, Srbac, and Trebinje. Republika Srpska has its own branch of the Imperial Orthodox Palestine Society, which in 2018, in cooperation with the Eparchy of Banja Luka, initiated the construction of a Russian-Serbian church. This unique project was developed by Moscow architects and replicates the appearance of the Chudov Monastery Cathedral, which was demolished in the Kremlin. In memory of the 100th anniversary of the execution of Emperor Nicholas II and his family, one of the three side altars will be dedicated to the Holy Royal Martyrs. The building itself is almost finished; the final step will be the installation of the domes. A Russian-Serbian cultural and spiritual centre is also being built nearby.
As you can see, the implementation of such an extensive program simply required opening an Embassy branch there. On June 11 of this year, such a branch was opened with a solemn ceremony in Banja Luka. The renovation is in its final stage now, and we expect the branch to start full-scale operation very soon.
– Could you tell us about the primary focus of the economic partnership between Russia and BiH (RS) over the last 20 years?
– Economic contacts between Russia and BiH are deeply rooted in history. By 1991, more than twenty major industrial enterprises had been built with Soviet technical assistance, including power plants, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgical works, and coke-chemical facilities. The largest of them include: the Gacko and Ugljevik thermal power plants, the Zenica steelworks, the Omarska mine, the Lukavac coke plant, the Birač alumina refinery, and the coal mining industrial complexes in Srebrenica and Vareš.
Between 1992 and 1995, Russia supplied natural gas to the country virtually free of cost, which allowed the people to literally survive. For decades, we never cut off the supply, nor did we demand any debt settlement.
Today, the priorities of our trade and economic cooperation have changed. Russia is deeply involved in the reconstruction of the fuel and energy sector of BiH. In 2007, the Russian company Zarubezhneft acquired the largest oil refining companies in Republika Srpska: the Brod Refinery, the Modriča Motor Oil Plant, and the Nestro Petrol filling station network. After a major reconstruction, the refinery began processing 1.2 million tons of crude oil per year, which accounted for 25% of the RS budget and more than 50% of the BiH oil and petroleum products market. During its 15 years of operation, the company’s total volume of contributions to the local budget has exceeded 2.5 billion euros. The company provides high-paying jobs to over 2,000 people. The enterprise is currently being transformed into a major distribution hub for oil products.
The Modriča Motor Oil Plant is successfully operating now. After it was modernized by Russia, the plant’s production volume has increased nearly tenfold, and exports to the regional and EU markets have doubled. Today, the enterprise is among the world’s largest producers of Group III base oils, which are certified by the world’s leading car manufacturers. All these products are sold through its own network of nearly 90 petrol stations, which accounts for one-fifth of the country’s market. Since 2011, a subsidiary of Gazprom Neft’ – NIS (Naftna Industrija Srbije) – has been working in BiH. The company now owns 50 petrol stations, selling its own refined products directly in the market.
It is the output of these companies, which, together with supplies of Russian natural gas and fertilizers, make up most of the Russian exports to BiH. Our partners, in turn, primarily export pharmaceuticals, metalware, and chemical goods to Russia. Notably, Russia receives 16% of BiH’s pharmaceutical exports and is the fourth-largest destination for the country’s medicinal products.
Time does not stand still, and we are also constantly looking for ways to expand markets and production into new areas, such as agriculture, hydropower industry, transport, and innovative technologies. There is potential for further development.
– Are there examples of successful Russian business projects in the country? Which sectors would you recommend to those who are considering starting a business in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
– The limited scale of the local economy and insufficient infrastructure mean that launching new projects here naturally demands major capital investments. As a rule, these projects are handled by large state-owned companies. The involvement of Russian private capital is extremely low. In recent years, Russian citizens have registered about thirty commercial companies, but their impact on the market is still quite limited.
To those interested in starting a business in BiH, I would recommend focusing, first of all, on tourism and construction. These are the areas where the most successful projects are currently being implemented. Experience and expertise of Russian specialists in these fields are highly competitive in the country’s market.
– Are there many of our compatriots living in Bosnia and Herzegovina? Who are these people? Do you have any contacts with them?
– The history of Russian compatriots in Bosnia dates back to the early 20th century. In 1920–1921, the First and Second Cadet Corps arrived in Sarajevo and Bileća. Their officers and families played a key role in opening and developing hospitals, schools and theatres in the region – in Banja Luka, Trebinje, and Goražde. Many emigrants – doctors, architects, and scientists – made a significant impact on the development of BiH. Among them was Professor Alexander Soloviev, the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Sarajevo and a renowned researcher of medieval Serbian and Bosnian law.
At present, the number of our compatriots here is not large. According to the last census of 2013, their number was less than 300. They have not formed any associations of their own here, although three years ago, the “Romanovs” society was registered in Banja Luka. It consists of Serbian employees from our companies who want their children to learn Russian.
Certainly, the Embassy works closely with some of our compatriots who play a major role in strengthening our bilateral ties. The National Ballet in Sarajevo is headed by the renowned artist and choreographer Evgeny Gaponko, and nearly half of its soloists are also Russian. Sarajevo is home to the artist Nataliya Andreeva-Salihović, while in Ljubinje, in the south of the country, Galina Bokić teaches the Russian language. Elena Kostić-Trepetova, an actress of the Moscow Art Theatre, is a Professor at the Academy of Arts of the University of Banja Luka. Vladimir Krčkovski, a renowned translator, educator and descendant of Russian emigrants, continues to work in Prijedor. He recently published a book with his translation of Sergey Yesenin’s poetry into Serbian. In Srbac, Viktoria Savanović founded and continues to run a ballroom dance school.
– How can Russian tourists travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina today? Is there interest among Russians?
– Russian tourists can enter the country and stay there visa-free for up to 30 days. There is one nuance: in contrast to the neighbouring Serbia and Montenegro, the “visa run” option is unavailable here; so, a brief exit from the country does not reset the visa-free period. A one-month stay in BiH must be followed by a three-month break before a Russian tourist can reenter Bosnia and Herzegovina without a visa.
Tourists are interested in such trips but the number of tourists is far lower than the local attractions deserve. It is primarily the result of poor promotion of BiH’s tourist potential in Russia. BiH can boast excellent hotels and rather inexpensive food but has a poorly developed network of roads, a lack of passenger train service, and no internal flight connections. The country is rich in mountains and gorges, and even a short 200-kilometer drive can take up to 6 hours.
BiH has access to the sea, with approximately twenty kilometers of coastline and only one resort town on the coast – Neum. However, there are numerous restored 14th-18th century fortresses here. The most famous of them are: Travnik, Jajce, Cazin, Srebrenik, Počitelj, Blagaj, Maglaj, Tešanj, Doboj, and Ključ. The country also offers its visitors balneotherapy resorts in the towns of Olovo, Fojnica, Teslić, Trebinje, Gračanica, and Višegrad. Ski resorts span the country; the two most famous mountain massifs within easy reach of Sarajevo – Jahorina and Bjelašnica – were the venues for the 1984 Winter Olympic Games. The country is home to a lot of picturesque mountain lakes, such as Buško, Rama, Prokoško, Boračko, and Pliva. BiH is also known for its spectacular waterfalls in Sutjeska, Kravice, and Jajce. Of particular interest are the historical and cultural monuments, such as the world’s only Bogomil rock sanctuary in Jajce, the source of the Buna River and the Naqshbandi Dervish monastery in Blagaj, and the mid-16th-century historic centre of the City of Mostar.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is a very beautiful country and it is certainly worth visiting.
– One of the primary tasks for the Embassy is establishing sister-city relations. Banja Luka is a sister city to Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod. Are there examples of other successful sister-city partnerships between the cities of Republika Srpska, BiH, and Russia?
– Over the past period, 14 sister-city agreements have been concluded between Russian and local cities and municipalities.
In our opinion, the most active ties are developing with the Nizhny Novgorod and Sverdlovsk regions. Nizhny Novgorod supports Russian language studies in Banja Luka, organises exchange programs for business delegations, and develops the Centre for Serbian Studies at Lobachevsky University. Forty-eight students from RS are currently studying there. An Honorary Consulate of Bosnia and Herzegovina was opened in the Nizhny Novgorod region in 2022. Over the last two years, the Sverdlovsk region has organized visits of its top executives to the area, concluded cooperation agreements between the Ural Federal University and two leading universities of the Republic, and assisted in the participation of Serbian delegates in international events and conferences on its own territory.
I would also like to highlight the role of Saint Petersburg that signed a Cooperation Agreement in trade, economic, scientific, technical, and cultural fields with the Government of Republika Srpska in 2007. In 2018, under this agreement, Saint Petersburg hosted the Days of RS Culture, and a representative office of RS was also opened. This year, the Committee for External Relations of the city organised the “Saint Petersburg Opera Stars” concert in Banja Luka, as well as performances of the Saint Petersburg folklore ensemble “Moroshka” in Bijeljina and Zvornik.
We are actively working to expand the scope of our interregional ties. Recently, we have been focusing on connecting smaller towns that tend to find common ground more quickly and are ready to organise real exchange programs for business delegations and performing arts ensembles. This June, negotiations led to a successful conclusion of an agreement to establish a sister-city partnership between the municipality of Srbac and the city of Morshansk, Tambov region.
– Igor Andreyevich, is it correct to say that your diplomatic work in this region dates back to the Soviet times? How have the relations between our countries evolved over time? When was it simpler to be a diplomat?
– It is true. All my diplomatic career – over 40 years now – has been centred around the Balkans. As for long-term assignments, my work has focused on two countries – Bulgaria and Bosnia and Herzegovina. During my work at the Central Office of the Ministry, my responsibilities naturally included managing relations with numerous countries in South-Eastern Europe and the Balkans.
I consider myself lucky. Over the past four decades, I have witnessed a complete transformation of one particular country’s political and economic system that can serve as an example of a nation’s fast transition from the near-Soviet-style socialism to capitalism through democratic reforms. What is currently happening in Russian-Bulgarian relations is not surprising to me and many of my colleagues who served in Sofia. Even at that time, we noticed certain traits in the Bulgarian political elite’s approach – traits that have become evident today. Certainly, when it comes to the Bulgarian people themselves, their gratitude to Russia is sincere and deep-felt.
A real pearl for me has been Bosnia and Herzegovina, both in professional and personal terms. It is hard to find another nation which has so closely intertwined its past and present, as well as its political, ethno-confessional, and even ethno-psychological issues of statehood and identity formation. And all of this has been taking place amidst the massive presence of the international factor.
So, as you can see, it is never easy for a diplomat – or, to be more precise, a Russian diplomat. Our practice implies that a diplomat must not only be fluent in the language of the host country but must also understand its, so to speak, metalinguistic and even metaphysical nuances. It is important to master the art of communication with representatives of different political parties – that are not always well disposed to Russia – and, despite that, find the possibilities to develop bilateral relations and advance the foreign policy interests of our country.
– You speak English, Bulgarian and Serbian. Which was more difficult to learn? Which language do you like most, and why?
– Most of all, I like the Russian language! This is not an affectation. I have seen for myself the truth of Goethe’s famous maxim: “Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of their own”. But there is another version: “Those who know nothing of foreign languages know nothing of themselves”. Studying foreign languages, I realised how right Mikhail Lomonosov was. I simply cannot resist the pleasure of quoting his words. “The Russian language is great above all others in Europe, not only by the vastness of the places where it holds sway, but likewise by its own breadth and richness. This will seem incredible to foreigners and even to some native Russians, who have devoted more effort to foreign languages than to their own… Charles V, the Roman Emperor, used to say that one should speak Spanish with God, French with friends, German with enemies, and Italian with the female sex. But had he been skilled in the Russian tongue, he would certainly have added that it is appropriate to speak it with all of them; for he would have found in it the majesty of Spanish, the vivacity of French, the firmness of German, the sweetness of Italian, and – beyond all these – the richness and the descriptive conciseness of Greek and Latin.”
Each of the languages you have mentioned is unique in its own way. Bulgarian is deceptively easy: almost everyone who speaks Russian can read and understand political texts but finds it difficult to read fiction books.
Serbian resembles Russian in its case system and its shared Slavic word roots. If, say, the Russian Minister of Agriculture (there was such an episode at a press conference) had known Serbian, then to the question “Why is cow meat called govyadina?” he would have answered that cattle used to be called “govedo”. This word is still used in Serbian – both in its literal and figurative meanings! Sometimes Serbian words make you smile. For example, in Russian a tall building “scrapes” the sky (neboskryob), and it sounds normal to us. But in Serbian, such a building “tears” the sky (nebodjer). It feels a bit unusual…
I am not even speaking about the linguistic fragmentation of the former Yugoslavia, where Serbo-Croatian – once a unified language of the country – has been divided into Serbian, Croatian, Bosnian, and, as is claimed, Montenegrin. Even linguistics is not free of politics! A “wrongly” spoken word can provoke a hostile glare. The “enemy” alphabet is subjected to violence, and inscriptions in this “enemy” script are blacked out on road signs.
As for the English language, it is amazingly dynamic and inventive, especially the jargon, so-called slang. A noun can easily turn into a verb and vice versa. The famous American cultural critic of the past H. L. Mencken – who tried to prove the existence of a distinct “American language” in his two-volume work – once quipped that the person who coined the word “rubberneck” deserved a special prize. (What do you think “rubberneck” means? I won’t keep you guessing: it is a tourist! Further transformation led to the meaning “gaper”. It is also used as a verb meaning to sightsee or gawk). According to Mencken, that person should have been awarded a prize – “a night with the Queen”!
– What do you think still connects peoples and helps them reach agreements today, despite all the challenges they face?
– I would say it is our common global problems. There is no need to speak a lot about climate, pandemics, artificial intelligence, and space exploration. All these issues require coordination of efforts.
Yet, these issues are inseparably linked to the specific political and socio-economic situation in the world and in individual states, as well as ongoing acute conflicts.
The last few decades, especially in this nuclear age, have shown that sustainable solutions require at least two things – sovereignty and respect for national interests. We are witnessing how the West, following the inertia of its colonial policy that brought it dominance in the modern world, rejects Russian proposals to create a global security system that would benefit everyone, rather than just a select few who proclaim the superiority of their own “rules” over international law.
However, it is clear that the global majority recognises not only the logical relevance but also the righteousness of Russian initiatives. This is reflected in the growing interest in those integration associations where Russia plays a vital role and which centre precisely around the principles that our country promotes: mutual benefit and respect for each other’s interests.
– I cannot help but ask a question concerning specifically BiH and Republika Srpska: you are the Russian Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and your mission is based in Sarajevo. However, we are well aware of the various processes and today’s political realities associated with the interaction between official Sarajevo and Republika Srpska. How does this complicated relationship affect you and the diplomatic mission you lead?
– The mission of the Embassy in BiH and my personal objective on the two tracks mentioned above is to develop relations with all the nations of the country and, at the same time, to facilitate their reconciliation. We see that the elites of the Bosniak and Croat peoples not only look toward the collective West but, following its provocations, have also turned toward internal confrontation within BiH, aiming to curtail the constitutional powers of Republika Srpska. We actively support RS in upholding its legitimate rights and ensuring comprehensive compliance with the balance of interests established by the Dayton Agreement.
Most of the population, including Bosniaks and Croats, has a positive attitude to us. In this regard, our primary goal is to preserve the bridges of dialogue between the peoples, providing everyone involved with the most public and objective information about the true situation in the world and Russia’s position, as well as the mutual benefits of cooperation.
– Which traditions of the country where you currently head the diplomatic mission have become close to your heart? And, vice-versa, what have you brought from Russia and shared with the people around you?
– Working in Sarajevo, I have seen for myself how similar our traditions and world outlooks are. It is not surprising as we are united by centuries of history and common Slavic roots shared by the Serbian and Russian languages. By the way, many people associate Muslims with the Middle East, Central Asia, and other regions. But the Bosniaks, also known as Bosnian Muslims, are an indigenous Slavic people. And this dichotomy is also responsible for the nuances of the national mentality.
A characteristic feature of the Balkans is expressed by the word “polako”. In informal English it is like saying “Take it easy”. It means “to do everything without rush or stress, with maximum comfort”. Even politics follows this rule. From this perspective, it becomes clear, for example, why the country’s constitution has remained virtually unchanged for nearly three decades since the Bosnian conflict ended, despite the significant changes that have occurred. It has all been going “polako”.
And this factor should be taken into account when interacting with our partners. We should not twist their arms, as Westerners often do, trying to achieve immediate results.
– The same question about food: the Balkans are famous for their unique, simple, and tasty dishes. Which local specialty do you love most (can you share a recipe?), and what is one Russian dish you just can’t live without?
– I sometimes joke that diplomats never want to leave Bosnia and Herzegovina because the working conditions here are practically ideal. The food is delicious (to my biased taste, it is the best in the Balkans), the nature is magnificent and in some places pristine; there are great ski resorts, a mild climate, and the sea that is close by!
I enjoy exploring the local culinary specialties – meat under sač (meso ispod sača), đulbastija, pastrmka – these names will certainly spark your curiosity and whet your appetite while you are looking them up!
Rakija deserves a special mention – in a purely cultural context, of course! Almost every man here – including presidents and high-rank politicians (and sometimes women, too!) – “distills their own rakija” from plums, grapes, apples, quinces (the famous “dunja”), apricots, and even cornelian cherries! A friend of mine even manages to make rakija from watermelons and melons! Once, for his guests from Brussels, he even made it from Belgian chocolate! So, it is a true work of art that deserves delicate and artistic evaluation!
As for my favorite dishes, I have many – and they are all cooked by my wife.
– One last thing: our readership includes not only high-level executives but also those who hope to join the diplomatic service – students, post-graduate students, and young scholars. What advice would you give them?
– You say that as if top leaders don’t need any advice. But true leaders are the ones who can find something useful even in poor advice.
I’d like to share a story. Once, the famous Niels Bohr was recruiting young staff. He asked only one question: what is the exact distance from the Earth to the Moon? Many were at a loss, and some gave approximate values. And only one of them said: “Hold on a second, Professor.” He ran to the library, looked it up in an astronomical reference book, and told Bohr the exact distance. He was the one Bohr hired, saying: “Often, it is not enough to simply know; what matters is to know where to find the information.”
Today, in the age of information boom and AI advancement, it is often crucial to find the necessary data, filter out fakes and glitches, and then analyse these data to offer realistic and, possibly, creative ways to solve problems.
This is my advice. Everything else will be learnt from “Experience, the son of painful errors, and Genius, paradoxes’ friend, and Chance, the god of all invention”.
The “Balkan Diplomat” editorial board will continue its series of interviews with prominent diplomats who carry the difficult task of preserving constructive cooperation between Russia and the Balkan region.
Inserts:
The BiH Constitution is designed to maintain a balance of interests of the three constituent peoples – Bosniaks, Serbs, and Croats Representatives of other nations live here too, of course.
As one of the guarantors of the Dayton Agreement, Russia consistently works towards achieving inter-ethnic reconciliation in the country and actively participates in the work of international agencies, the most important of which is the Steering Board of the Peace Implementation Council (PIC).
Currently, it is the representatives of Republika Srpska in the state agencies of BiH who prevent the country from joining anti-Russian sanctions. It is due to the Serbs that BiH remains a friendly country to Russia.
In 2007, the Russian company Zarubezhneft acquired the largest oil refining companies in Republika Srpska: the Brod Refinery, the Modriča Motor Oil Plant, and the Nestro Petrol filling station network.
Recently, we have been focusing on connecting smaller towns that tend to find common ground more quickly. This June, negotiations led to a successful conclusion of an agreement to establish a sister-city partnership between the municipality of Srbac and the city of Morshansk, Tambov region.
The last few decades, especially in this nuclear age, have shown that sustainable solutions require at least two things – sovereignty and respect for national interests.
