#alexei petrov

[otmaaromanovas]

Alexei chilling with his tutors and friends, c1916

Also, how cute is Gilliard napping on PVP lol

[otmaaromanovas]

PETER VASILIEVICH PETROV was the Russian tutor of the five children of the Tsar and Tsarina. Petrov appears to have been a great favourite of the children, who often mention him in diaries and letters throughout their lives, nicknaming him 'PVP'. Several drawings made by the children were dedicated to him, and in return he read aloud to them and wrote poems for them.

Petrov seems to have favoured Anastasia Nikolaevna, whom he called his 'little songbird'. English tutor Charles Sydney Gibbes recalled a lesson when Anastasia tried to bribe him with flowers so that he would improve her grade: 'Drawing herself up to the most of her small height, she marched into the schoolroom next door. Leaving the door wide open, she approached the dear old Russian professor, Peter Vassilievich Petrov. 'Peter Vassilievich', she said, 'allow me to present you with these flowers'. By all the rules he should have refused them, but professors are human; he did not.'

Finding concrete sources about Petrov is difficult both before and after time he spent with the Romanov family. He does not appear to have been imprisoned with the imperial family, which was most likely due to his poor health, which the children often me mentioned in their letters, concerned for their old tutor. Petrov appears to have passed away around 1918.

Tatiana Nikolaevna to PVP:

'5 May 1917

Tsarskoe Selo

Pyotr Vasilievich, my dear,

I feel so ashamed that I have not written to You before, but please don't think this shows I have forgotten You absolutely not. After all, it's possible not to write to friends and yet keep them in mind isn't that so? So, how are you feeling?

I was very upset, when I learnt about your illness. Do you have any news from your nephew how is he? As you will have heard, we all try to keep busy here with some form of domestic activity each one as he can. We are planting a kitchen garden. Do you really still have to stay in bed, or will you be able to go out onto the balcony once it gets warmer? Anyway, all my very best wishes. It's sad that we have not met for so long. Get well soon.

May God keep you. Your old pupil, Tatiana'

Sources:

Diary of Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna by Helen Azar and George Hawkins

The House of Special Purpose by J. C. Trewin using original papers from Charles Sydney Gibbes

Alexander Palace Time Machine

[markedbyindecision]

Rachel Goldberg & Alexi Petrov in UnREAL s3e2 “Shield”

[image ID for last 3 gifs bc it won’t let me add them since there’s more than 10???: 1) Serena standing on the ground below the balcony / On the balcony, Rachel says “Then be a man.” to Alexi 2) On the balcony, Alexi says “Fine. What did you have in mind? What do I do?” Rachel steps closer to him and says “Exactly what I tell you.” 3) Alexi and Rachel are facing each other and he says “You see? Russian soul. Very dark.” They smile at each other.]

[egoschwank]

al things considered — when i post my masterpiece #1360

first posted in facebook november 8, 2024

alexei savrasov -- "the rooks have returned" (1871)

"nature is always breathing, always singing, and the song it sings is full of majesty. contemplating nature is the highest pleasure" … alexei savrasov

"the rooks were sailing about the cathedral towers; and the towers themselves, overlooking many a long unaltered mile of the rich country and its pleasant streams, were cutting the bright morning air, as if there were no such thing as change on earth. yet the bells, when they sounded, told me sorrowfully of change in everything" … david copperfield

"[this] charming painting itself is known to every russian schoolchild" … vladimir petrov

"this sad message of 'change' is finally dawning on every american citizen" … al janik

[footballmanageraddict]

EuroTrip | Part 41 | Epic Seven-Way Title Battle

#EuroTrip Part 41: Epic Seven-Way Title Battle. Trebor Mahtal heads for Belarus to take charge of sleeping giant @FCBATE. And a superb run of form, combined with their rivals struggling, lifts #BATE into the heart of a title race. Read here:

Trebor Mahtal secured the 24th league title of his 37-year Football Manager career as he led Rijeka to the 2059/60 Croatian title. The Zambian’s career was very much in its twilight period, but he was keen to push on for another season or two. Mahtal’s successes left Belarus, Bulgaria, Gibraltar, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Northern Ireland and Poland as the only European nations he needed…

[otmaaromanovas]

Hi! Can you give us a huge insight of Tatiana Nikolaevna's personality? I would be interested in some rare quotes said by someone who met her! (cos she is my favorite royal like ever and I'm hopeless obsessed with her 😫)

Hello! Of course, here are some of my favourite rarer quotes about Tatiana - or from Tatiana herself - which I think give a great insight into her personality....

"Tatiana Nicolaievna had holly different… character. Less serious than her elder sister she was also more positive. In her could already be discerned a strong tendency to dominate to impose her authority coquette. She saw and noticed everything, and often made observations to her sisters, who because of it nicknamed her ‘the governess'… she took great care of her appearance and was it was said that she resembled her…”She's already a woman," said the Empress about her that year. She was the favourite in the family. She was very superstitious. One day she wrote to a graphologist, a fortune teller, to ask that she inform her about the destiny in store for her. By an intermediary, the other had sent to her a note couch in these terms: "A fatal destiny awaits you" Thereafter, the Grand Duchess never stopped bombarding her tutor, Petrov with questions such as "What does that mean? How am I to interpret this letter?"" - Alexander Spiridovich, Last Years as Tsarskoe Selo, volume 2

"It was Tatiana Nicholaievna who would call N.P. Sabline by telephone to transmit ‘Papa’s’ order to come with his friends to play tennis." - Alexander Spiridovich, Last Years as Tsarskoe Selo, volume 2

"As for poor Alexei Nikolaevich, he was as if rooted to the armchair the whole time [unwell]. It was touching to see his sister, Tatiana Nicholaievna, lavishing attention on him before the luncheon." - Alexander Spiridovich, Last Years as Tsarskoe Selo, volume 2

"In [Alexandra's] eyes, as well as in those of her sister, Tatiana Nicholalevna, all that was Russian was superior to all the rest. To try, even jokingly, to lower something Russian in favour of something foreign was to expose oneself to losing her sympathy forever." - Alexander Spiridovich, Last Years as Tsarskoe Selo, volume 2

"Russian was taught by Peter Vassilievitch Petrov, whom I had had myself as a teacher at the Pavlovskoe military school. Petrov was already an elderly man, very gentle, and very good hearted. He held the Tsar's children in affection and they, in turn, were attached to him as if to a kindly relative. Often, when they were alone with him, the Grand Duchesses used to play with him, shouting, laughing, pushing him, and generally hauling him about without mercy. It was Tatiana Nicholaievna, graceful and agile as a gazelle, who would always give the signal on these occasions and direct the games. She was, at that time, a very pale little girl. One day, Petrov asked Olga Nicholaievna to name a white object for him.

My blouse, replied the Grand Duchess.

And a black object?

My slate pencil.

And a green one?

My sister Tatiana.

That really was the tint of her complexion." - Alexander Spiridovich, Last Years as Tsarskoe Selo, volume 1

"[Alexandra] herself taught them sewing and needlework, her best pupil being Tatiana, who had an extraordinary talent for all kinds of handwork. She not only made beautiful blouses and other garments, embroideries and crochets, but she was able on occasions to arrange her mother’s long hair, and to dress her as well as a professional maid." - Anna Vyrubova, Memories of the Russian Court

"Suddenly [whilst watching a cinematograph] the bigger girl [in the movie] snatched a toy from the little one who, however, held on to it and refused to give it up. Foiled in her attempts, the elder seized a spoon and pounded the little one with it, who quickly relinquished the toy and began to cry. Tatiana wept to see the poor little one so ill-treated, but Olga was very quiet." - Margaretta Eagar, Six Years at the Russian Court

"One of the under-nurses was married last year. She had come to the palace straight from her school, at seventeen years of age, and was there for nearly seven years. She was naturally very much attached to the children, and when her last day came was in floods of tears all through the day, and the children were terribly distressed to see her in such grief. The little Grand Duchess Tatiana told her she could stay on if she liked, she knew we all loved her and would be sorry to part from her ; and then she came running to me to beg me not to send dear Tegla away. I answered that she might stay if she liked, but that she had promised to marry Vladislav ; it was her own wish, and I did not think she would like to break her word. The other girls gave a little party to celebrate her leaving us, and the young man was amongst the guests. When the girl heard that he had arrived her grief broke forth again. She realised that the time of parting had come, and the children cried most bitterly. Little Tatiana Nicolaivna took a sheet of paper and a pencil, and wrote with great difficulty a letter which I translate : " Vladislav, Be good with Tegla. Tatiana." She placed this letter in an envelope and printed in large letters on the envelope, Vladislav, and sent it to him by the housemaid. I went in later to speak to the man and wish him happiness. He pulled this letter out of his pocket, and with tears in his eyes begged me to thank the little Grand Duchess, and assure her that he would never forget to be good to Tegla. All the more, because it was Tatiana Nicolaivna' s wish. He always carries the letter about with him. She came to visit us several times after her marriage and was very happy. Whenever she writes she always sends a special message to Tatiana to say that Vladislav is very good to her, and the little one looks so pleased and says, " Well, I am glad."" - Margaretta Eagar, Six Years at the Russian Court

"After coffee, I went for a walk with my pupils… They really liked to go to the shops and buy everything. Anastasia Nikolaevna was especially attracted to stored, where they sold doll shoes of various sizes… Tatiana Nikolaevna did not always accompany since the doctors found her heart was weak and she went with the Empress to take baths." - Sofia Ivanovna Tyutcheva, A Few Years Before the Catastrophe

"Alexandra's 594th letter to Nicholas, Sept 19 1916: …I do so want to get quicker well again, have more work to do & all lies upon Tatiana’s shoulders." - Joseph T. Fuhrmann, Nicholas and Alexandra: The Wartime Correspondence

The following are from Correspondence of the Russian Grand Duchesses: Letters of the Daughters of the Last Tsar by George Hawkins:

Tatiana to tutor PVP - 10 July 1906 - "Dear Petr Vasilievich! …Why did you write that I was not good? You mustn’t do that, you must write that I was a very good girl. Your devoted Naughty girl, Tatiana." -

Tatiana to PVP November 6th 1909 "…On these few lines I had 10 errors… I am so ashamed when I think about it"

Pierre Gilliard to Tatiana 25 May 1916 - "...It seems that purple is his [Dmitri Pavlovich] favourite colour… Alexis Nikolaevitch says that it is also yours…"

Letter from Alexandra to her brother and sister-in-law: 2 September 1911 …[after Stolypin's assassination] Tatiana came home very tearful and is still a little shaken whereas Olga put on a brave face throughout." - The Correspondence Of The Empress Alexandra Of Russia With Ernst Ludwig And Eleonore, Grand Duke And Duchess Of Hesse

Note from Anastasia to Tatiana - "1913 Aug. 4. My sweet Tatiana, please find out all about us and let us know through Shura about tomorrow, will we take off our caps for breakfast? Your Anastasia. Don’t forget." - Anastasia Romanov: The Tsar's Youngest Daughter Speaks Through Her Writings

Letter from Pierre Gilliard to Anastasia, Spring 1916: "…I already wrote a long letter to Tatiana Nikolaevna yesterday, but I don’t think I shall send it, otherwise I would not dare to go back to Tsarskoe Selo, I would fear for my life." - Anastasia Romanov: The Tsar's Youngest Daughter Speaks Through Her Writings

"4 December. ...The general atmosphere that lords over [us] nowadays does not inspire peace. As soon as dressings end, Tatiana Nikolaevna goes to do the injection, then sits down with K [officer]. The latter is constantly restless, first sits by the piano, playing something with one finger, chats a lot and fervently with the charming child. Varvara Afanasiyvna is appalled, what if Naryshkina walks in on this scene, Madame Zizi, she would die. Shakh-Bagov has fever, is in bed. Olga Nikolaevna sits by his bed constantly. The other couple also moved there, yesterday [they] sat by the bed and looked at a photo album. K. is being so coy. Tatiana Nikolaevna's small dear child's face cannot hide a thing, [it looks] pink, excited, Isn't this closeness, the physical contact harmful[?]. I feel scared. The others are jealous, angry, and I imagine they spread all sorts of [rumours] throughout the city and later beyond." - From the memoirs of V. I. Chebotareva

"Today Tatiana Nikolaevna walked with me upstairs after dressings, to do Popov’s dressing. The poor child is terribly embarrassed; grabs my hand: “So awfully embarrassing and frightening… one never knows whom to acknowledge and whom not to.”" - From the memoirs of V. I. Chebotareva, Sister of Mercy

"To the right of me sits the Grand Duchess Tatiana. She's a grand princess from head to toe, so aristocratic and regal. Her face is pale matte, only the cheeks are slightly rosy, as if pink satin is trying to escape from just under her thin skin. Her profile is flawlessly beautiful, as if cut from marble by a great artist. The widely set eyes provide uniqueness and originality to her face [...] The nurse's Red Cross kerchief is more flattering to her than to her sisters. She laughs more rarely than her sisters. Her face sometimes has a focused and stern expression. In those moments she looks like her mother. On the pale outlines of her face are traces of deep thoughts and sometimes even sadness. Without any words I feel that she is special, different from her sisters, despite their common traits of kindness and friendliness. I feel hers - is a wholly secluded and unique world." - From the memoirs of Sophia Ofrosimova, Sister of Mercy

The following are all from Tatiana Romanov, Daughter of the Last Tsar: Diaries and Letters, 1913–1918:

"9th June. Tuesday. Today our Mary [Vishnyakova] left us, our nanny who was with us for 16 years. She left because it is time for Aleksei to be transferred into male hands so she will not have anything to do here anymore, so she left. I feel so sorry for her."

"28 February 1916. Tsarskoe Selo. Dear Mama, Would you not want to try to put this piece of fur to your cheek? Olga . . . gave it to me when I too was suffering from headaches. It is from the grave of the orthodox Semyon Verkhotursky. Try it, maybe it will help you. If not, then return it to me tomorrow. I hope that the Lord will help you, and all will be well with you. May God bless you. 1000 kisses from your very own daughter, Tatiana."

"6 April. On Wednesday, I will have my dreary Committee, and even the thought of it makes me sweat. I do not like these horrible committees."

"22 September. My meeting is on Wednesday at 2 o’clock in the Winter Palace in Petrograd. And that knave, Neydgart —he wanted me to read something at the beginning of the committee [meeting], but darling Mama said there was no need. To think, [he wished that] I would read such idiotic, stupid things in front of 14 people! Ah!"

"13 December. I have the great pleasure to go to the Petrograd Committee today. Oh! Not wanting to [go] at all."

"...the dear children worked until the 8th hour. Tatiana Nikolaevna cut her finger with a scalpel, quite a lot of blood flowed, and although the blade was clean, perhaps dust might have ended up in the wound. Melik-Adamov and Shakh-Bagov were sitting nearby. What poetic sympathy Tatiana Nikolaevna brings! How warmly she responded when called to the telephone and was read the telegram about his injury. What a good, pure, and deep girl she is! Youth is attracted to youth, and how her eyes sparkle! Awfully nice!" - Memoirs of V. I. Chebotareva

"Before they left we kissed each other good-bye, and we all had a dim feeling that this was a crucial moment. We had been marched away separately at every previous change from boat to train, but this seemed to be different. Tatiana Nicolaevna tried to take the matter lightly. "What is the use of all these leave-takings? We shall all rejoice in each other's company in half an hour's time!"" - Sophie Buxhoeveden, Left Behind

"I was presented to the Emperor and to two of the young Grand Duchesses, Olga and Tatiana. The latter, to my idea, was the prettier of the two; but both had the simplicity of manner that is the greatest charm in every person and especially in anyone who holds such a position as theirs. They were not blasé in the least, and their faces shone with pleasure and excitement... The eldest, Olga, was very intelligent and gay and had a heart of gold; but she was also rather timid, so that her sister Tatiana, who was much more sociable, was easier to get on with at first." - Olga Voronva, Upheaval

"The Grand Duchess Tatiana was as charming as her sister Olga, but in a different way. She has been described as proud, but I never knew anyone less so. With her, as with her mother, shyness and reserve were accounted as pride, but, once you knew her and had gained her affection, this reserve disappeared, and the real Tatiana became apparent. She was a poetical creature, always yearning for the ideal, and dream- ing of great friendships which might be hers. The Emperor loved her devotedly, they had much in common, and the sisters used to laugh, and say that, if a favour were required, ''Tatiana must ask Papa to grant it." She was very tall, and excessively thin, with a cameo-like profile, deep blue eyes, and dark chestnut hair... a lovely "Rose" maiden, fragile and pure as a flower." - Lili Dehn, The Real Tsaritsa

"The Tsarevitch was a lively, amusing boy, with a wonderful ear for music, and he played well on the balalika : like Tatiana he was shy, but, once he knew and liked anyone, this shyness vanished." - Lili Dehn, The Real Tsaritsa

"October 24 - Today, Tatyana Nikolaevna first came alone: "After all, I'm going here, as if to my second home," and, indeed, she was so sweet and comfortable. She ran with me to the kitchen, where we prepared bandages. The empress laughed and said that Tatyana, like a good house dog, got used to it." - Diaries of Vera Chebotaryova

"In her physical appearance and her serious and ardent nature, she most resembled her mother. "She was also the family's manager and organizer, and possessed, more than her sisters, a highly developed sense of her position as the daughter of the Tsar." Tatiana was very different from Olga in temperament and interests. She was more confident of herself and more reserved, with more perseverance and balance. Slender, with auburn hair and clear gray eyes, she was strikingly good-looking and enjoyed the attention her beauty commanded. As the Empress became more and more an invalid, Tatiana, eighteen months younger than Olga, took over much of the responsibility for the younger children and the household. Had her life run its natural course, she would have graced many a ball." - The private world of the last Tsar, in the photographs and notes of General Count Alexander Grabbe

"Her Imperial Highness is President of the Committee for helping War-ravaged Russia, and is fully explained on the opposite page by M. Czerniewski. She is no mere figurehead, but takes the deepest and most constant interest in this splendid work." - British newspaper article

"Of the persons left behind [at Tobolsk] Tatischeff was the senior; and of the remaining part of the imperial family, Tatiana was considered senior in the place of the Grand Duchess Olga." - Examination of Sidney Gibbes, The Last Days of the Romanovs

"The Grand Duchess Tatiana Nicholaevna was very thin. You could hardly imagine anybody as thin as she was. She was twenty-one years of age, was tall, darker than the rest of the family, and elegant. The colour of her eyes was dark grey. Her eyes made her look different from all of her sisters, who showed their souls through their eyes. She was reserved, haughty, and not open hearted, but she was the most positive. She was also religious, but the motive back of her religion was: "It is my duty,' while Olga Nicholaevna had it in her heart. She was always preoccupied and pensive and it was impossible to guess her thoughts. She played the piano and played it better than anyone else in the family. However, she had only a better technique and did not show feeling in her music. She painted and embroidered well. She was her mother's favourite and the one in whom, of all the daughters, she confided the most. If any favours were to be obtained they had to be gotten through Tatiana Nicholaevna." - Examination of Sidney Gibbes, The Last Days of the Romanovs

The Grand Duchess Tatiana was about twenty. She was quite different from her sisters. You recognised in her the same features that were in her mother — the same nature and the same character. You felt that she was the daughter of an emperor. She had no liking for art. Maybe it would have been better for her had she been a man. When the emperor and empress left Tobolsk nobody would ever have thought that the Grand Duchess Olga was the senior of the remaining members of the imperial family. If any questions arose it was always Tatiana who was appealed to. She was nearer to her mother than the other children; and it seemed that she loved her mother more than her father... All of them, including Tatiana, were nice, modest and innocent girls. There is no doubt they were cleaner in their thoughts than the majority of girls nowadays." - Examination of Commissar E. S. Kobylinsky, The Last Days of the Romanovs

"Tatiana looked like the czaritza. She had the same serious and haughty look as her mother. The other daughters : Olga, Maria and Anastasia,* had no haughtiness about them. One had the impression that they were modest and kind. I also can not describe the way they dressed, as I did not notice it." - Examination of Commissar Yakimov, The Last Days of the Romanovs

"Two other commissaries went to Tobolsk to remove the remainder of the family — Tatiana had been left in charge of the invalid and household. Olga, the eldest daughter, did not enjoy her mother's confidence in the same degree. She took far more interest in literature than in the practical affairs of life, and would hide herself in a comer with a book or tell stories to the soldiers, utterly forgetting domestic trifles. Anastasia, still a child, and rather backward, could be left in Tatiana's care." - Narrative of the editor, The Last Days of the Romanovs

Happy reading! I hope this helped :)

[the-last-tsar]

"Since the outbreak of war Alexey had been playing soldiers at home, proudly strutting around in his soldier's greatcoat - 'quite like a little military man', as Alix told Nicky - standing guard, digging trenches and fortifications in the palace gardens with his dyadki and in the process sometimes provoking attacks of pain in his arms. But aside from this he was in better health than he had been for years, and for some time now had had no serious attacks. It was hard for Alexandra to let her boy go, but she agreed on condition that Alexey's studies should not be interrupted. He was by now, however, woefully behind in his lessons and although he was followed to Stavka by both PVP and Pierre Gilliard, he rarely knuckled down to a full day's lessons, preferring the distractions of board games, playing his balalaika and enjoying the company of his new dog, a cocker spaniel named Joy. At Stavka Alexey was in his element, sharing the same Spartan living conditions with his father, sleeping on campbeds, going on trips to army camps, inspecting the troops with him and enjoying the camaraderie of the soldiers, and taking particular pleasure in swimming with his father in the River Dnieper. Back at Tsarskoe everyone in the entourage felt the absence of father and son: "life at the Imperial Palace became, if possible, even quieter", recalled Iza Buxhoeveden. "The whole place seemed dead. There was no movement in the great courtyard. We ladies-in-waiting went to the Empress through a series of empty halls." Whenever Nicholas and Alexey returned on visits, "the palace sprang to life". At Stavka the young heir made a strong impression on all who met him. True, he could still be brattish - particularly at table, where he had a penchant for throwing pellets of bread at his father's ADCs. But his extraordinary energy lit up a room. "It was the first time I had seen the Tsarevich when the door of our box flung open and he came like a gale of wind," recalled US naval attaché Newton McCully:

"Full of life, healthy looking, and one of the handsomest youngsters I have ever seen, I was particularly glad to see him so closely because I had heard so many rumors about his being paralyzed - maimed for life - and so on. One could not wish to see a handsomer child. Undoubtedly he has been ill, but there are no signs of illness about him now - if anything perhaps a too exuberant vitality, perhaps an organism over-nervous."

In mid-october, Alexandra, Anna Vyrubova and the girls visited Mogilev, in time to see Alexey awarded the Medal of St George 4th class. They were all delighted to see the continuing improvement in his health and strength. "He was developing marvelously through the summer both in bodily vigor and gaiety of spirits", recalled Anna Vyrubova. "With his tutors, M. Gilliard and Petrov, he romped and played as though illness were a thing to him unknown.""

The Romanov Sisters | Helen Rappaport.

[simsimperial]

Emperor Petrov and Empress Galina. They are the parents of Emperor Alexei IV, grandparents of Xavier II, and great-grandparents to Emperor Tobias I.

[ascorian]

i was tagged by my dearest @lnox-shitpost !! i've been unable to use my puter these days but ANYWAY here i am

favorite color: green :) i realised that i actually have a favourite colour only recently and it's the wierdest feeling ever!!

currently reading: yoooo i've recently read "closed. life of gay people in ussr" by rustam alexander. devastating reading. now i'm reading "sacred and terrible air" by robert kurvitz. seems to be not less devastating than the previous one but i hope to get from it more disco elysium lore.

and to be honest i'm listening to the audiobooks more than read normally. my favourite one is "petrov's flu" by alexey salnikov. i've listened to it like 3 times and still find it very fun smart and charming

last series: atlanta by donald glover!!! i love this man's art

sweet, savory or spicy: all of them are good. even all at once ok too

currently working on: nothing 'cause universities suck. but the last thing i wanted to do was the mafuemu comic i've thought of last year. i don't think that i'll finish it but i HOPE. SOMEDAY.

look at this cute part

tagging @gastik00 @chernkii and @princesslunasgf

[otmaaromanovas]

Alexei Nikolaevich with his beloved Spaniel Joy and his cat, Kotka. More about Kotka below…

Kotka was gifted to Alexei Nikolaevich by Count Major General Vladimir Nikolaevich Voeikov during his stay at Military HQ, ‘Stavka’, with his father. Judging by this photograph and General Voeikov’s memoir, Kotka was a Siamese cat. 

“I have on my farm… Siyam…ones. They were so beautiful, colour like chocolate with blue eyes, etc…. [the] Heir asked for one…

Next time, I gave him a wicker [basket] with a cat. He was dithyrambic [note: probably a rough translation of very enthusiastic and excited]. To Sisters (OTMA) a letter was sent, and they wanted some too…”

Count Major General Voeikov, and with Alexei at Stavka, December 1916. Also pictured are Pierre Gilliard ('Zhillik'), Sydney Gibbes ('Sig'), and Pyotr Vasilievich Petrov ('PVP')

Throughout his letters and dairies, Alexei frequently mentions Kotka, including how she and Alexei’s spaniel dog Joy liked to sleep together, and how he woke up one morning to fine Kotka asleep next to him.

As the months as Stavka went by, Kotka began to accompany Alexei to his lessons with tutors Pierre Gilliard, Pyotr Vasilievich Petrov, and Sydney Gibbes, preferring to cuddle up next to Joy and nap throughout the teaching. Alexei even trained Kotka to accompany him and Joy on their daily car rides with Pierre Gilliard!

It’s unknown exactly what happened to Kotka and her fellow feline friends: Maria’s cat, and Olga’s cat Zubrovka. However, the general understanding is that they weren’t allowed to accompany the family to Tobolsk, and remained at the Alexander Palace until homes were found for each of them. 

Sources: Alexei: Russia's Last Tsesarevich, diaries and letters, volume 2: 1916-1918 by George Hawkins

[themisinformer]

Vladimir Putin’s Approval Rating Drops Down to Record Low 992%

MOSCOW, RUSSIA - Showing his first major dip in popularity since inheriting the office nearly 24 years ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s approval rating has plummeted to an all time low of just 992%, according to the latest figures from the State Department of Unwavering Support (SDUS).

Analysts were left reeling as the Kremlin’s formerly unimpeachable leader experienced this significant drop in popularity, down from his usual 12,000% approval rating. “This is deeply concerning,” said Nikolai Petrov, head of the Kremlin endorsed survey institute. “If the Russian people stop rallying behind their great leader, then it makes it harder for the government to promote their necessary values onto them, which just makes them nothing more but shills to the west.”

Rumors swirled in Moscow about what could have caused the sudden dip in popularity. But analysts point to the war in Ukraine, the current struggling Russian economy, sanctions and general government corruption as being major factors.

While state media rushed to explain the approval rating as a “technical error infiltrated by western hackers,” there is also growing concern among government officials about an emerging radical group of critics hiding within the government, who could be a threat to their power; who have since been dubbed as the “Silent 0.08%.”

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Sergei Ivanov tried to downplay the situation. “Let’s not overreact. We’re still looking at overwhelming support. If my math is correct, and it always is, we’re still looking at over 1,500 thumbs up for every one lukewarm nod.” He paused, before sternly adding, “Also, no thumbs down. Ever.”

The news has even sparked concern among Putin’s most loyal supporters. “I don’t understand,” said Alexei Ramala, a devoted Putinist since he became president in 2000. “How could his approval rating fall? Who isn’t approving? I demand names. And addresses. For a friend, of course.”

However, political scientists have also noted that this sudden dip in popularity could be used to Putin’s benefit, as it could make him seem more relatable. “For years, Russians have believed that Putin was infallible, like some sort of geopolitical Superman,” said one expert. “By dipping into the low 900’s, it shows that Putin too can make mistakes. It could make him come across as more of a man of the people - a mere demigod, if you will.”

As the world watches the fallout of this new “crisis,” insiders at the Kremlin have assured the public that immediate measures are being taken to circumvent this situation. Some rumors suggest that Putin plans to stage an even more dramatic shirtless horseback ride to boost those ratings, while others speculate that Putin is considering rescuing another Siberian tiger from a raging forest fire.

But in the meantime, state media is reinforcing the message that a 992% approval rating is still very strong, especially in a country where any percentage below 100% is considered an act of treason.

Update:

The author of this data, Nikolai Petrov, has gone on to denounce his findings before accidentally falling out of an 8 story building. Russian officials would go on to comment on Petrov’s death, calling it a “tragedy,” but they hope that people can take it as a lesson as to not be so careless in their place of work. According to new state approved data, Putin’s approval rating is back at 12,000%.

[otmaaromanovas]

Hi! Where do you read letters and diaries of NAOTMAA? Do you read it online and if not where do you buy books? I luv ur blog sm ❤️‍🩹🙃

Hello! Thank you for your question and compliments!

I read the diaries and letters from physical books. A few books are online, and Olga and Tatiana's diaries are online, but require institutional access - you can see more about that here.

If you have an amazon prime account or free trial, you can read some online using the kindle app.

The most prolific translator is Helen Azar, who collaborates often with George Hawkins and Nicholas B. A. Nicholson.

I am going to list all the books that I am aware of that are dedicated purely to translations:

1895 Diary of Tsar Nicholas II, Lottie Bailey 1913 Diary of Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna: Complete Tercentennial Journal of the Third Daughter of the Last Tsar, Helen Azar, Amanda Madru A Lifelong Passion, Andrei Maylunas, Sergei Mironenko (this book is huge, almost 800 pages, and has translated letters and diaries from Nicholas and Alexandra, some of OTMA's notes, and extended family) Alexei: Russia's Last Tsesarevich - Letters, diaries and writings, George Hawkins Anastasia Romanov: The Tsar's Youngest Daughter Speaks Through Her Writings, Helen Azar, George Hawkins Correspondence of the Russian Grand Duchesses: Letters of the Daughters of the Last Tsar, George Hawkins In the Steps of the Romanovs: Final Two Years of Russian Imperial Family (1916-18), Helen Azar Journal of a Russian Grand Duchess: Complete Annotated 1913 Diary of Olga Romanov, Eldest Daughter of the Last Tsar, Helen Azar MARIA and ANASTASIA: The Youngest Romanov Grand Duchesses In Their Own Words, Helen Azar MARIA ROMANOV: THIRD DAUGHTER OF THE LAST TSAR. Diaries and Letters 1908-1918, Helen Azar, George Hawkins Romanov Family Yearbook: On This Date in Their Own Words, Helen Azar, Amanda Madru Russia's Last Romanovs: In Their Own Words, Helen Azar Tatiana Romanov, Daughter of the Last Tsar: Diaries and Letters, 1913–1918, Helen Azar, Nicholas B.A. Nicholson The Complete Wartime Correspondence of Tsar Nicholas II and the Empress Alexandra, April 1914-March 1917 (Documentary Reference Collections), Joseph Fuhrmann (at a whopping 800 pages, this book went out of print several years ago. It sells for over $100 regularly, though you can get it cheaper second hand. It is the only completely uncut edition of all of Nicholas and Alexandra's telegrams and letters during WWI.) The Correspondence of the Empress Alexandra of Russia with Ernst Ludwig and Eleonore, Grand Duke and Duchess of Hesse. 1878-1916, Petra H. Kleinpenning (includes both the original German letters and English translations) The Diary of Grand Duchess Olga Nicholaievna - 1913, Marina Petrov, Reagan Baker The Diary of Olga Romanov: Royal Witness to the Russian Revolution, Helen Azar The Last Diary of the Tsaritsa Alexandra, Vladimir Khrustalev, Robert K. Massie

Diaries and letters are occasionally quoted by historians in their books, but books solely dedicated to these writings tend to not be online for free reading unfortunately. However, here are a few:

Nicholas's 1917-1918 diary is translated and available to read for free here!

A Lifelong Passion is available to read for free here!

Anna Vyrubova includes a few letters from Alexandra, which you can read for free here!

My recommendations if you are just starting to get into the Romanovs and their writings would be either A Lifelong Passion, Correspondence of the Grand Duchesses, and the diaries and letters of OTMAA. Note that some of the other books by Azar have letters from other members of the family, rather than being focussed on just one member, so expect repeated letters and diary entries if you decide to purchase all of her books. For example, letters published in Maria's book are also published in the book dedicated to Maria and Anastasia.

In terms of where I buy them, I like to get my books second hand - helps out the planet and also means that you usually can get a good discount!! Translated books often aren't cheap, because of the time and money spent visiting archives and translating each piece of writing individually. But, for example, I managed to get a book almost 70% cheaper than the retail price by buying it second hand. I use websites like eBay, WOB (world of books), and abebooks.

I hope that this was helpful!

[twenty-words-or-less]

Command Performance (2009)

Summary: Russian premier Alexei Petrov (Hristo Shopov) is taken hostage at a pop concert, and it is up to drummer and ex-biker Joe (Dolph Lundgren) to try and save him.

Perfectly serviceable Die Hard at a pop concert. Lundgren just wanted to drum in a film, let's be real here.

Rating: 2.75/5

Photo credit: TMDB

[misskremlintsarina5294]

April 17, 2013

Vladimir Putin attended in Sochi the preview screening of Legend No. 17, a film telling the story of Valery Kharlamov, a legendary Soviet hockey player. The film has consistently ranked high among the most popular Russian motion pictures. Other guests at the preview screening included Soviet hockey stars Alexander Yakushev, Alexei Kasatonov, Sergei Makarov, Vladimir Petrov, Vladislav Tretyak, Vyacheslav Fetisov and the son of the famous hockey player, Alexander Kharlamov.

[seepweed]

my absolute favourite thing authors do in books is to recontextualise little facts and details in the world. to pick a definitely random example (SPOILERS!!!!!), in "petrov's flu" (alexei salnikow, 2017), the titular petrow tells us that his son has pink tights that wash out in the laundry. this fact is forgotten by the reader when, approximately 100 pages later, his wife tells us that she kills people regularly and that after being soaked in blood once, she put the son's tights in the wash with the blood stained clothes to avoid suspicion.

i fucking ate the paper at that point isn't that a cool way to convey how we percieve different things from different perspectives. sorry i'm tipsy and tired rn but like. oh my god are you seeing this shit?!?!!!??!

[mariacallous]

A Bulgarian tycoon under house arrest, Vassil “The Skull” Bojkov, on Thursday announced a new political project, the “Centre” party, standing in opposition to Bulgaria’s current ruling coalition. 

“Bulgaria needs strong people with a sense of mission who can get the country out of its misery and lead it into the new world – something that those thieves can never do,” Bojkov said at the inauguration of the party in Sofia, attacking the current cabinet.

Party member Damyan Kachulski said the project comes at the right time geopolitically, with a “right-wing America, a strong Russia, a wise China, a reasonable Europe [and] a neighbouring strong Turkey” and it will seek the votes of “the silent majority”, referring to the low voter turnout in the 2021-2023 elections in Bulgaria. 

Dessislava Kovacheva, film producer and screenwriter of history-themed features, said the party stood against “anti-Bulgarian propaganda”, aims to attract “those who shiver when they hear the national anthem” and will deal with “the traitors who we know by name”.

Bojkov attended the launch event despite being under house arrest following his return to Bulgaria last August after a period of exile in Dubai where he relocated to evade various charges. They included being a leader of an organised crime group, wrongfully obtaining cultural and historical riches, murder threats and orchestrating assassinations. 

Since the 1990s, Bojkov has been associated with profitable businesses as well as alleged political influence and ties to organised crime. He started a chain of currency exchange offices and then expanded into the gambling industry in the 1990s, as well as into road construction, football and art collecting. 

The tables were turned in 2020, when his profitable lottery business was nationalised. He then became a vocal critic of ex-PM Boyko Borissov and his GERB party, as well as their partners from the Movement for Rights and Freedoms. This was a major change in attitude: before his clashes with the GERB-led cabinet in 2020, Bojkovv had shied away from media attention or comments on political events. 

In Dubai, he started a party called Bulgarian Rise, which is now defunct and replaced by his new opposition project. 

Both Bojkov and his foes from GERB and Movement for Rights and Freedoms found themselves designated by the Global Magnitsky Act in 2021. 

Several tycoons of his generation who amassed wealth and influence in the 1990s have been assassinated in recent years, triggering speculation about a tectonic change in Bulgaria’s criminal underground.

In May last year, Krassimir “Kyro” Kamenov and his wife were shot dead in Cape Town, South Africa. Last August, just before Bojkov’s return, business figure Alexei Petrov was assassinated in Sofia. In an interview in September, Bojkov denied having any major ties to Petrov and Kamenov. 

The announcement of the new party comes when relations between the two blocs in Bulgaria’s ruling coalition are tense after just less than a year of rule. The planned rotation of Prime Ministers in March, which is now turning into a fight for power between GERB/UDF and We Continue the Change / Democratic Bulgaria, risks the stability of the cabinet. 

“We don’t want another snap election but we won’t allow our alliance to be a cover-up for diverting the coalition’s main priorities,” PM Nikolai Denkov of We Continue the Change said on Thursday. He will file his resignation on March 6 to make way for GERB’s Mariya Gabriel. 

On Monday, Denkov met Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.