Russian Colonial Food Quotes

“When everything is for sale, even an era gets renamed.”
— Angelika Regossi, Russian Colonial Food”
― Angelika Regossi, Russian Colonial Food: Journey through the dissolved Communist Empire

“Soviet Russia cannot survive without Baku’s oil.’ ‘Is it possible? Can you drain the Caspian Sea?’ — Stalin’s orders were never questions.”
― Angelika Regossi authir of "Russian Colonial Food: Journey through the Dissolved Communist Empire”
― Angelika Regossi, Russian Colonial Food: Journey through the dissolved Communist Empire

“For people like you, we have psychiatric hospitals.”
“But I am not ill.”
“No problem, we shall find a diagnosis for you,” answered the KGB officer to the dissident.”
― Angelika Regossi, Russian Colonial Food: Journey through the dissolved Communist Empire

“Oil

“Soviet Russia cannot survive without Baku’s oil,” told comrade Vladimir Lenin.
One of the plans was to drain the Caspian Sea:
“Is it possible? Can you drain the Caspian Sea?” said the powerful Stalin. It was more an order than a question.”
(- Angelika Regossi, “Russian Colonial Food”. Chapter: Azerbaijan - Oil Country).

Mafia

“With his wife Victoria, they reigned here for nineteen years. This period Georgians called ironically the Victorian Era, and his wife got the name Queen Victoria.
Victoria created the system when all was for sale: state documents ten times the price; 5,000 roubles to enter the Communist party; 50,000 for the judge job, … “
(- Angelika Regossi, “Russian Colonial Food”. Chapter: Gruzia - Where Soviet Mafia Was Born).

Smoking

“Smoking breaks in the USSR were long and often—and became an official excuse not to work, causing huge damage to the already failing state economy. But on the other hand, with zero unemployment and prison terms, if you are not on a payroll, the state could not provide enough work for everybody.
People had to show up every day in the workplace. Boredom from nothing-to-do turned into massive laziness and Soviet workers spent long hours in the smoke rooms. For some, it was a place to relax, for others, to provoke a frank conversation—because … Well, let’s talk about it later.”
(- Angelika Regossi, “Russian Colonial Food”. Chapter: Litva - Friends and Rebels).

God

“The bus was driving slowly, just forty km an hour on the slippery winter road. Outside was a spectacular view of the Caucasus mountains. Here and there appeared churches: nearby and far away, but always on the top of the hill:
“Closer to God, as high as possible,” crossed His mind.
The bus stopped with a creaking sound, and He slowly got off:
“For me, Khor Virap Monastery will be the resting place: from the Soviet life … from the communist lies … I shall spend here the rest of my life. And from here … I shall go to eternity …” these were His last thoughts before He entered the monastery gate. He was dead tired from all that happened, walking uphill closer to God.”
(- Angelika Regossi, “Russian Colonial Food”. Chapter: Armenia - Road in the First Christian State).”
― Angelika Regossi, Russian Colonial Food: Journey through the dissolved Communist Empire

“Soviet identity was a paradox: Muslim by tradition, atheist by obligation.”
― Angelika Regossi, Russian Colonial Food: Journey through the dissolved Communist Empire

“But I am not ill.’ ‘No problem, we shall find a diagnosis for you.’ — KGB logic in a nutshell.”
― Angelika Regossi, author of "Russian Colonial Food: Journey through the Dissolved Communist Empire”
― Angelika Regossi, Russian Colonial Food: Journey through the dissolved Communist Empire

“Jews

““For you it is good—you are not a Jew. It will be easier for you to enter the University. But Sasha is a Jew — for him, it will be difficult,” Galja said with the burr to her girl neighbor.
The girl rushed back home, jumping over two-three stairs, stormed the door and shouted:
“Granny, Granny! What does it mean to be a Jew? Is it something bad?”
Poor girl, she didn’t know yet that she was also a Jew. He had to hide it from her to make her life easier in the USSR. Here, the Jews were not welcomed. In the USSR, it is good to be Russian.”
(- Angelika Regossi, “Russian Colonial Food”. Chapter: Russia - Jews and Nicknames).

Diversity

“Communists noticed that Kazakhstan was incredibly big—the size of West Europe. Perfectly suitable for huge communist projects and experiments, which brought to Kazakhstan many scientists, engineers, agronomists, builders, and … Soviet secret service — to control the situation.

“Kazakhs also have culture, their own, different from ours. They are Muslims. Oh, yeah, atheist, Soviet Muslims,” smiled Boris and added, “You said Kazaki, but they are Kazakhs, these two are different people. Let me explain,” Boris was happy to talk about something else than the Communist Party plans.”
(- Angelika Regossi, “Russian Colonial Food”. Chapter: Kazakhstan - Home for Nuclear Tests).

Disabled

“Turkmens are very close people, but disabled Turkmens are even more. She decided to give him another—spiritual life, that’s why, each day she spent time telling him stories. He would not be like the millions disabled in the USSR: hidden in prison-like hospitals, with no hope and alone, bad treatment and food, closed to the outside world.”
(- Angelika Regossi, “Russian Colonial Food”. Chapter: Turkmenia - Closed People).

Traditions

““If I would marry Tajik, I would have to furnish our home and bring everything inside it. All from my father’s money. Because I would marry very young and would not earn yet. So, you have to be nice to your father, otherwise, he gives nothing or little,” smiled Nathalie and continued her wedding story, And … I would have this!”
Nathalie jumped out of the sofa to the mirror and quickly drew something with a black pencil on her face. When she turned smiling, girlfriends were shocked …”
(- Angelika Regossi, “Russian Colonial Food”. Chapter: Tajikia - Neighbour of Afghanistan).”
― Angelika Regossi, Russian Colonial Food: Journey through the dissolved Communist Empire