This is a translation of the Russian post.

Recently there have been quite a few articles on online news agencies about usage of old Soviet terminology for the trademarks and sale of goods that are symbolic of the USSR. For instance, the Russian online news agency InoSMI published a translated article from the New York Times about the business of brothers Simachev. Several years ago they began using Soviet symbols to promote and sell their goods. Their goods are pretty expensive though. The brothers say that their business is apolitical and the symbols are used as nostalgia about the USSR.

Looks like this trend is developing here in Bishkek. As Omega reports, there is a new place opened up in Bishkek called “Stolovaya Frunze”, the literal translation of which means Canteen Frunze (Frunze is the old name for Bishkek). The article also discusses nostalgia for the USSR, Frunze, and about how green and beautiful the city was during Soviet times. It also says that the Soviet canteens were very clean and this new canteen would remind people of the good old times. Probably, it is just a bit of PR to attract clients.

There are certainly those who do not really welcome this kind of PR ideas. They think that these symbols are reminiscent not only stability and good lives, but also of negative and even tragic moments. Anyway, some older people spent most of their life in the Soviet era, and you cannot deny this. What do you think?

Photo taken from Omega website.