World Press on social life in Russia (August 15, 2012)

Yesterday Süddeutsche Zeitung published an article by Michael Schindhelm, headlined 'Megacity Moskau -
Labor für ein neues Russland' ('The megapolis of Moscow - Laboratory of a new Russia').

"Moscow has a reputation as a gloomy city. In international ratings it's placed somewhere between Africa and the Middle East. However, only in Tokyo is life more costly," the article begins.

In spite of all this, the city is developing rapidly, the author believes. New urban culture has emerged in Moscow, transforming the Russian capital into a new type of city. "Anyone visiting Moscow this summer will see street demonstrations all over the city," the article reads, "New parties appear, the opposition gathers to show its protest and people struggle for their freedom."

"The Russian capital resembles all the changes Russia has gone through - the collapse of the Soviet Union, globalization, reforms and reaction. Moscow is a giant city, an endless labyrinth."

No one knows how many people live in Moscow, as the number of illegal migrants is enormous. They allegedly constitute up to 30 per cent of the city's official population size. The vast majority of migrants are Muslims, the author underlines.

Moscow is a unique city, a city where new urban lifestyles compete with a traditional authoritarian pattern. This makes Moscow a gigantic laboratory, where the future of a new Russia is being created, the author concludes.