As soon as I saw Pyotr Kazlov’s headline in The Moscow Times (Oct. 4, 2023) . . .

“Kremlin Readying Putin’s 2024 Campaign Reveal at Economic Expo”

. . . I knew — because I had been there in 1988 — exactly what “Economic Expo” he meant: VDNKh, the acronym for Vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva — Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy — a site within the Ostankino region on the outer limits of the City of Moscow. Originally named “City of Exhibitions,” it was projected to be opened in 1937. Due to numerous delays, however, it was only opened to the public in October of 1939. In 1941, it was closed for the duration of World War II, but was again delayed and not reopened until 1954, still as a primarily agricultural exhibition.

In 1959, it received its second name of “Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy,” and by 1989, it housed 82 pavilions within an exhibition area of 700,000 square meters — some 173 acres. Each pavilion — including the 1939 “regions” — was dedicated to a particular industry or field: Engineering, Space, Industrial, Atomic Energy, etc. Each year during Soviet times, VDNKh hosted national and international exhibitions, as well as conferences, seminars and meetings of scientists and industry professionals.

In 1992, during Boris Yeltsin’s presidency, it became known as the “All-Russian Exhibition Center” (Russian acronym: VVTs), which lasted until 2014, when Vladimir Putin returned it to its Soviet-era identity of VDNKh — the name which remains in place to this day. It now occupies 2,375,000 square meters, or nearly 600 acres, of choice Moscow real estate.

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And this massive homage to Soviet grandeur and achievement is where Vladimir Putin chose to make the official announcement of his intention to “campaign” for an unprecedented fifth term as president. I put “campaign” in quotes because the whole world knows he’s a shoo-in. It’s all theater . . . a performance meticulously choreographed to show the world what a free and democratic nation Russia has become.

(It’s okay to laugh here . . . I’ll wait.)

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But everything Putin does has special significance to him . . . although frequently not obvious to us common folk. And that includes his choice of location for his reveal party. On the surface, VDNKh seems a lovely site, where large crowds can gather to celebrate the occasion, take in a few of the exhibitions, and perhaps have a little lunch — a sort of Russian “Trump Centre.” But there are other wide open spaces nearer the center of the city, more convenient to the masses, like Red Square; VDNKh is a substantial trek from the Kremlin, even by Metro.

But look at VDNKh’s historic significance. Built during Josef Stalin’s reign; now marking 85 years of incomparable achievements of “our glorious motherland”; and even being returned to its original Soviet-era name at the behest of Vladimir Putin himself . . . well, what better backdrop for the man who strives to be Stalin’s rightful heir and return his country and its people to their deserved, prominent position as the world’s foremost evildoers? It’s a perfect choice.

I can already hear the immortal strains of The Internationale ringing in my ears.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
1/8/24