From Russia with Pain VIII

It has been almost three months since the last edition of “From Russia With Pain” was posted, and the following three stories are really the only ones that I have found to be worthy of the title during that span of time.  I can’t believe nothing out of the ordinary has been happening behind the iron curtain for that long, so the only logical explanation is that Spring is the sane season for Russian residents.

“An Eternal Itch“

An armed 23 year old policeman in Moscow fell victim of his own carelessness. He decided to scratch an itchy spot on his nose with a gun and accidentally killed himself, the Moskovsky Komsomolets reports.

The tragedy happened in the court security facility. At 6pm the officer’s supervisor tried to connect with him over the phone to check on him. The sergeant did not answer his phone and the supervisor had to go see him with other officers.

The police found a locked door they had to break and the body of their colleague behind the door. The policeman’s body with a wound in the head was found under the desk.

The investigation ruled out a murder, and there was no note that would indicate suicide. The victim had been serving in police since 2007. He was single and was not registered with the staff psychologist. He was reported to be in good spirits on the day of the accident.

The sergeant allegedly scratched his nose with his gun and accidentally pulled the trigger. VIA

This next one is probably what the people of Russia would call a heart-warming story…and it’s still pretty damn depressing.

“A 65-Year Wait for an Apartment and TV“

Mikhail Mogilnichenko, 85, does not like to wear his war decorations because he says it would look like he were showing off, even though he has every right to do so as a combat veteran.

A more practical — though belated — reward was finally bestowed on Mogilnichenko a few weeks ago. The veteran is now preparing to move into a new apartment provided by City Hall.  The apartment came as a surprise.  Mogilnichenko said he had not expected the government to fulfill its promise. “Many years have passed, and I have received a present I never thought of receiving,” Mogilnichenko said in an interview. “It’s very good for me. The apartment is nice and convenient, so I’m very glad and satisfied.”

Mogilnichenko was put on the waiting list in 2000, when he moved in with his son’s family in Moscow from his home village, Vorontsovka, in the Voronezh region. The veteran said he would pay his first visit to the new apartment on Victory Day — May 9 — and move there together with his grandson by the end of the month. City Hall also has awarded Mogilnichenko with a 65th anniversary medal and gave him a new television set.

City Hall said it had provided apartments for 1,019 veterans and families of those deceased. This does not mean, however, that the government has provided new housing for all veterans of World War II. A veteran is eligible for a new apartment only if the living space per person in his or her current housing is 10 square meters or less (about 107 square feet). VIA

Verkhovna Rada is the unicameral parliament of the Ukraine, which is composed of 450 deputies and presided over by one chairman (or speaker).  Well back in late April, the group convened to discuss possible ratificatons to a contract involving something called the Black Sea Fleet.  I have no idea what that discussion entailed, but after looking at some pictures from their meeting, it’s apparent that things didn’t go too well:

More photos from the Verkhovna Rada Royal Rumble can be found here.