Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

Filed under: Lohan

Russia Won’t Bar American Artists

http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=35556
St Petersburg Times (Russia, not Florida)

The Russian government is unhappy that the United States denied a visa to Iosif Kobzon, but says that they won’t retaliate by barring American artists. So Lindsay Lohan should be ok to audition for the lead in an upcoming Russian horror film – they say it’ll be like “Crime and Punishment” meets “Saw” meets “Saw 2”.

Kobzon is a “legendary Soviet crooner and State Duma deputy for the ruling United Russia party.” Why no visa? Suspected mafia ties.

He’s a legendary figure in Russian popular music. Here’s his monument in his hometown of Donetsk, Ukraine: (www.wikipedia.org)

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. He’s clearly a man who knows where he wants to go, and is in the process of getting there, in a tux.

He admits that he used to know the late Vyacheslav Ivankov, but claims that he has never been involved in anything illegal. Vyacheslav was a reputed leader of the Russian mafia. After being shot several times in the stomach by a sniper in July 2009, he finally succumbed to his injuries in October of that same year.

Here’s an article about him (http://dmitryscloset.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/notorious-russian-crime-boss-vyacheslav-ivankov-is-buried/) and here is a lovely keepsake photo you may wish to print out and carry in your wallet (from the BBC News story http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/special_report/1998/03/98/russian_mafia/70485.stm)

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The hitman was driving a minivan, the car choice of mob enforcers around the world: (from the blog 'Leaving California and Other States of Mind' http://leavingcaliforniaandotherstatesofmind.blogspot.ca/2011/04/minivans-mor...

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He was shot coming out of the Taisky Slon (Thai Elephant). Here’s a link to their website (http://www.slon.su/) and here’s a recent review from Tripadvisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g298484-d2344885-Reviews-Taisky_Slon-Moscow_Central_Russia.html). Unfortunately for the recent guest in the linked review, the server was gauche enough to complain in front of their gathered birthday party that the tip was only 7% instead of the standard 10%. Food seems good though. Just be careful about minivans hanging about in the parking lot.

But enough of all that. Here’s singer Iosif Kobzon in happier times, doing what he does best: