Russians celebrate a ship call with a concert

The Russians are here
photos by José F. Ponce

The Admiral Chabanenko, a Russian sub-chasing destroyer, has been in town, paying a six-day call at Rodman. It was the first Russian warship to transit the canal since World War II and wouldn't you know that a right-wing Republican element of the American community here is upset about it, as in, for example:

"They'd like nothing better than to embarrass the US and tie us up with rebel groups and BS propaganda.

"There's definite folks here in Latin America to welcome them -- Chavez, Evo Morales, etc."

(Hmmm --- isn't Bolivia landlocked?)

The Russians are trying to be friends with Latin American governments that have their problems with the United States, a kind of tit-for-tat game related to US military advisors in Georgia and the Ukraine.

But Panama's growing Russian community has its own Russian-language newspaper these days, which is more about selling real estate to the Russian expatriate bourgeoisie than stirring up proletarian revolution.

To welcome the Russian sailors and acknowledge the growth of Panama's Russian community, there was a free concert at the Teatro Nacional on December 5, starring the Vertograd Trio (Yuri Stupak on Balalaika, Alexei Stepanov on guitar, and baritone vocalist Alexei Parfionov), plus a tap dancer.

The event was co-sponsored the INAC, the Russian Embassy and Panama's Russian Cultural Association.

Also in this section:
Books, Heliodoro Portugal
Design, Panamanians in the Ibero-American Biennial
Theatre Guild Christmas show
Russians celebrate a ship call with a concert
Poets' Corner
Pop Art at Arteconsult
Sparky the Wonder Dog
Photography, Panama scenes
Cool Internet sites

Make the Executive Hotel your headquarters in Panama City --- http://ww.executivehotel-panama.com
Find the boat of your dreams through Evermarine --- http://www.evermarine.com

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