Moscow's Passing Fads

Thursday, Feb. 21, 2002
"Once President Putin publicly praised [Press] Minister [Mikhail] Lesin for having lost 20 kilos," writes the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily, "the entire political élite rushed to gyms and diet clinics. Who would mind his slender body being noticed by the President himself?"

Earlier this month, Putin proclaimed sports a national priority. When the President says "jump!" his officials have to play ball — literally. RTR, the Russian State TV channel, now regularly shows civil servants working out at stadiums and gyms. The most conspicuous so far has been the footage of Nizhni Novgorod Regional Governor Gennady Khodyrev jogging along the Volga River embankment in his city. At the sight of the approaching boss, a stout official, dressed in a heavy sheepskin coat and fur cap, started jogging too, his briefcase jerking rhythmically in hand. Following the Leader has traditionally been de rigueur for any Russian official worth his salt. To put this Russian phenomenon in a Western context, just imagine that all the American civil servants bought saxophones once President Bill Clinton moved into the White House and swapped them for fishing tackle once President George W. Bush replaced Clinton.

Under Stalin all officials, from Politburo members down to mere apartment block managers, wore army type jackets and boots, worked nights, and slept through late noon, since that's what Stalin himself did. Under Khrushchev, an ambitious official had to wear a Ukrainian-type, embroidered shirt under a rumpled suit, enthuse about experiments like planting corn above the Arctic Circle, and make a lot of grammatical mistakes. Under Brezhnev, officials sought to look decently portly and dignified, to speak slowly and inarticulately, and to espouse a general air of mild indulgence. The order of the day was live and let live — meaning their own families and clientele, that is. Under Andropov, life got harsher: one was supposed to report to office on time and sit at one's desk through the entire working day.

The real shock came under Gorbachev: not only did officials have to stay sober on the job, but the Boss started showing up with his wife at public functions! Under Yeltsin, life got simpler again. As long as one could enjoy a steam bath, hold a tennis racket, and drink to capacity, one could look forward to both a career and a fortune. To pursue the same goals these days, Russian officials have to feign European airs, wear their watches on the right wrist, affect public modesty — and work out. Vodka and tennis rackets are out, skis and judo robes are in.