Cold news in everyday life.

If you think it’s cold here, you’re wrong — it’s –35°C in Tomsk.

More than 10 scheduled buses did not depart from Tomsk to Tolmachevo, Asino, Kozhevnikovo, Teguldet, and other settlements on Tuesday due to the extreme frost.

Earlier, it was reported that temperatures in the Tomsk region could drop from –30°C (–22°F) to –43°C (–45.5°F). Tomsk itself is in the southern part of the region, but it is still around –35°C there. It’s going to get warmer on Thursday, only -11°C (12.2° F ) -13°C (8.6° F).

Mayor Dmitry Makhinya urged drivers to give rides to people waiting at bus stops during severe frosts and help take them to a warm place.
In Russia, it’s generally normal to give rides to strangers (this is how I got married for the first time, LOL). I haven’t seen a similar practice here. Maybe it is just me.

One news caught my attention: On December 8, a group of Russians was deported from the United States for the third time. The third time? I didn’t hear anyone talking about that.

Previous mass deportations also took place in June and August. At least two of those deported — former Russian serviceman Artem Vovchenko and Perm anti-war activist Leonid Melekhin — were arrested in Russia immediately upon arrival. Just like Navalniy - from the plane to the prison.

Something doesn’t sound right here. But who cares, right? Life continues. Tomsk has already installed the Christmas tree, and people are buying gifts and delicacies for the New Year celebration.

On December 12, Russians celebrate Constitution Day.

A brief history:
In the USSR, until 1977, Constitution Day was observed on December 5—the day the so-called “Stalinist” Constitution of 1936 was adopted.
Later, the holiday was moved to October 7, the day the new “Constitution of Developed Socialism” was adopted. From 1978 to 1991, this date was a non-working day.

The current Constitution of the Russian Federation was adopted on December 12, 1993, by popular vote. A year later, President Boris Yeltsin declared this date a national holiday, and beginning in 1994, December 12 became a day off in Russia. However, since 2005 it is no longer a non-working day, and Constitution Day is now considered a commemorative date.

In 2020, amendments were made to the Russian Constitution. The main change concerned the “resetting” of presidential terms. Previously, a president could serve only two consecutive terms. During the amendment process, however, a clause was added that lifted term limits for anyone who had already served as president before the amendments took effect.

According to the Central Election Commission, 77.92% of voters supported the amendments, and 21.27% voted against.
I doubt that the results were not falsified.

Wishing you a joyful free and democratic holiday season! While we have it.

P. S. Photos from my Tomsk friend Marina