Of rather unfortunate times
Russia’s Ambassador to Hungary, VALERIJ MUSATOV
The Russian Federation’s Ambassador to Hungary, VALERIJ MUSATOV, knows Hungary’s sometimes tragic history all too well. In some ways he was even a part of it. From his formative years, Musatov studied Hungary and Hungarian at the Moscow University for International Relations, and spent a practical year at Budapest’s ELTE University, after which he became employed at the former Soviet embassy.


Consolidating power
Putin’s Russia draws increasing nervousness
The poet Osip Mandelstam, who died in a Soviet prison-camp in 1938, wrote of the “watermelon emptiness of Russia.” In a Russian autumn, which began with the blowing up of two airliners, a suicide bombing on the Moscow metro and the tragedy of Beslan, the words hang in the air like a melancholy prophecy, combining both a sense of beauty and powerlessness.

Building and re-building
Hungarian-Russian relationship a question of re-inventing partnerships
A polite smile is the usual response of Russian diplomats when asked about the potential role Hungary could play as a bridge between Moscow and the European Union. But hidden below the surface is a hint that they don’t need Hungary’s helping hand. ”We have our own telephone directory, thank you,” said one official.