Watching Spain vs Chile World Cup match with Spanish fans

Was watching World Cup Spain vs Chile match with hundreds of Spanish fans at Camino bar in London. A friend of mine suggested this place, as I wanted to watch the match with Spanish fans and in a place where I have not been before. I am so grateful for this suggestion. It was an excellent choice. A genuine Spanish-like atmosphere. Friendly staff and security. Relaxing environment. I am definitely coming back, and not only for World Cup matches.

During the match I kept comparing the experience of watching football with Spanish and English fans.

What I like in Spanish fans is that they always manage to turn the occasion into a celebration. The atmosphere was very friendly, hot, crazy. I loved it. I did not like throwing half-empty cans of beer at each other though. I do not know if it's a tradition or just a one-off thing, as have not noticed such things before.

True, there is always a good level of craziness present with English fans too. And the atmosphere (and fans) could be pretty hot too. So you could get hotness and craziness with both Spanish and English fans in different ways and depending on where you watch it.

What I dislike in English fans is that there is too much stress and anger present during England games. Also, more frequent nationalistic sentiments expressed during commentary, shouts and some songs. I have to admit though that the level of adrenalin is higher when watching football with English fans.

Below is a short video I made today, and few pictures.

TwitPic of the Day: Rio Ferdinand's naked support for England and Russia president Medvedev's 'Burgergate'

Injured Rio Ferdinand tweets his picture of support for England's World Cup bid.

I call this a 'Burgergate' :) Russia president Medvedev starts tweeting and posts his picture of guilty pleasure with US president Obama: "Haven't had a burger in a while. Lunch with Obama at Ray's Hell Burger".

'Taste of Greece' in London

*Saturday 19 June, Southbank, London

Azerbaijan activist severly beaten by Baku police officer. Same guy was interrogated by authorities last year when voted for Armenia at Eurovision

Further to the info I posted earlier: "Fuck Oil": say it and get detained in Baku, Azerbaijan, it was emerged today that well known Azeri activist Rovshan Nasirli was severely beaten by a senior police officer.

Further reports indicate that at least one protester was beaten severely by a senior Baku police official. Rovshan Nasirli, a well-known activist, was allegedly roughed up by Lieutenant General Yashar Aliyev, who placed Nasirli under arrest. Witnesses report that police officers at the station where Naasirli was taken say that they “found narcotics” in his possession. It is unclear whether this is the same Rovshan Nasirli who was interrogated by Azerbaijani authorities last year when he voted for the Armenian entry in the 2009 Eurovision song contest, something that was reported world-wide.

I got confirmation today that he is indeed the same guy who was interrogated last year by Azerbaijani authorities when voted for Armenia at Eurovision.

Here is what RFE/RL reported back then:

Rovshan Nasirli, a young Eurovision fan living in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, says he was summoned this week to the country's National Security Ministry -- to explain why he had voted for Armenia during this year's competition in May.

"They wanted an explanation for why I voted for Armenia. They said it was a matter of national security,” Nasirli said. “They were trying to put psychological pressure on me, saying things like, 'You have no sense of ethnic pride. How come you voted for Armenia?' They made me write out an explanation, and then they let me go."

A total of 43 Azeris voted for the Armenian duo Inga and Anush, and their song, "Jan-Jan."

Nasirli, like others, used his mobile phone to send a text message expressing his preference, little imagining his vote would eventually result in a summons from national security officials. (By contrast, 1,065 Armenians voted for the Azerbaijani team, apparently without consequence.)

*picture - via Foreign Policy Blogs

Khloe Kardashian pays tribute to her dad

To mark Father’s Day, Khloe Kardashian revealed previously unseen family photos, and dedicated her album to both her dads - her father Robert Kardashian, who died of cancer seven years ago, and stepfather Bruce Jenner. (pictures and quotes below - via Mail Online and Khloe Kardashian)
***

*Family snaps: An Easter picture of Khloe with sisters Kourtney and Kim and their father Robert was among the family pictures she posted online

*Happier days: Rob, Kim, Kourtney and Khloe with their father Robert

'I was seriously the luckiest girl in the world growing up because I had two amazing dads who not only loved us kids more than anything, but adored each other as well.'

Khloe's mother Kris, 54, was married to Robert from 1978 to 1990, before marrying former Olympic athlete Bruce Jenner in 1991. [...]

'Father's Day is always a bittersweet holiday for me because I of course miss my dad, but it also reminds me of how truly blessed I am to have had two incredible fathers.' [...]

Since Robert died of cancer aged 59 in 2003, his son and three daughters have gone onto find fame in the reality TV shows Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Khloe And Kourtney Take Miami.

Kourtney, now 31, is mother to baby Mason with boyfriend Scott Disick.

Khloe, 25, is married to LA Lakers star Lamar Odom and openly trying for her first child, while Rob, 23, is trying to forge a music career.

The most famous of the family is sister Kim, 29, who appeared on Dancing With The Stars.

"Fuck Oil": say it and get detained in Baku, Azerbaijan

Two words that say it all. “Fuck Oil”. Say it, and as per reports from Baku, you are guaranteed at least 10 days of administrative arrest.

His name is Rashadat Akhundov (pictured), and he was among youth group that took part in the protest today in Baku. There were about 300-350 protesters there, representatives of various opposition groups. Rashadat himself used to be a member of OL! Youth Movement, but left. He is no longer part of any youth/political organisation. Young activists decided to hold posters that read: "ILHAM - RESIGN" and "FUCK OIL". (you may see pictures of posters in making here) They were demanding "freedom of assembly and transparent parliamentary elections this fall".

80 people in total were detained: 61 of them were kept in Sabail District Police station; the rest were driven to Gobustan. [Most of the detained were later released. However, four people got 10 days, one person - 15 days of imprisonment. Six people were fined 20 AZN.]

During the protest youth activists managed to run away from the police, however Rashadat was among people waiting outside the Sabail District Police Station for news on the 61 detainees kept there. One of the policemen recognised Rashadat and detained him too. He then got sentenced to 10 days in prison.

*many thanks to my Azeri friends for the info provided.

**picture - via @ljmaximus, via azadliq.org

UN expert calls for better protection of human rights defenders, including LGBT, in Armenia

Unfortunately, so far UN human rights missions in or outside the region did not give us hope that this will be anything but a paper-based exercise. Still, good to see that Margaret Sekaggya is highlighting some important issues which Armenian authorities should take into account not for the sake of international organisations but for the sake of our country.
***

18 June 2010 – Armenian authorities must take steps to protect human rights defenders, who are often physically attacked, harassed or stigmatized as they try to carry out their work in the Caucasus nation, an independent United Nations expert said today.

Margaret Sekaggya, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, also voiced concern about restraints on freedom of assembly in Armenia as she wrapped up a five-day fact-finding visit – the first visit to the country by a UN human rights envoy since 2000.

“I am worried by documented cases of ongoing violence, assaults, intimidation, harassment and stigmatization of defenders, in particular journalists,” she said in a statement issued in Yerevan, the capital.

“These cases would seem to illustrate an apparent culture of impunity in Armenia which impinges upon the work of human rights defenders. This impunity appears to be closely related to the deep-rooted problems within the police system as well as with the shortcomings of the justice system.”

She recommended that the Government implement a comprehensive reform of the police service, immediately take steps to tackle the problems in the justice system and set out an anti-corruption strategy for government.

Ms. Sekaggya, who met Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan during her visit, urged Armenian authorities to “undertake prompt, thorough and transparent investigations of all human rights violations, in particular attacks against journalists, in order to create a safe and enabling environment in which human rights defenders can carry out their activities.”

She also called on Mr. Sargsyan to publicly acknowledge the important role that human rights defenders play in a pluralistic and democratic society.

Human rights defenders and civil society groups should be consulted and included in decision-making processes, Ms. Sekaggya said, adding the specific needs of women defenders and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender defenders must also be addressed.

In addition the Special Rapporteur spoke out against what she described as “significant constraints” on freedom of assembly within Armenia, nothing that the right to peaceful, open and public demonstrations should be available to all.

“I also add my voice to those who have already expressed serious concerns about the amendments to the Law on Television and Radio. If signed into law by the President of Armenia, these amendments will further restrict and seriously hamper the plurality of voices and opinions available to Armenian society.”

Ms. Sekaggya serves in an independent and unpaid capacity and reports to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. Her full report on the visit to Armenia will be presented to the Council in March next year.

*source: UN News Centre

Human Rights Watch urges Armenia president Sargsyan to veto TV law amendments

In a letter to Armenian president, executive director of Human Rights Watch (Europe and Central Asia Division) Holly Cartner expressed HRW's concern re recent amendments to the "Law on Radio and TV" and urges Serj Sargsyan "to refrain from signing the law" "with the aim of bringing any and all amendments into compliance with Armenia’s international obligations on freedom of expression."

Below are selected excerpts from the letter along with the copy of it.

"Human Rights Watch is writing to express its concern regarding the negative impact on media pluralism and public access to diversity of information and opinion in Armenia, recent amendments to the “Law on Television and Radio,” are likely to have. We urge you to refrain from signing the law and instead return it to the National Assembly and urge them to continue their deliberations with the aim of bringing any and all amendments into compliance with Armenia’s international obligations on freedom of expression. [...]

We are first concerned that the amendments to the law will reduce the number of television stations able to broadcast in Armenia from 22 to 18. The changes in the legislation could have created room for more actors to participate in provision of media facilitated by digitalization, yet reducing the number of television broadcasters poses the opposite risk of limiting media pluralism. There is a serious concern that the reduction in available television stations may particularly disadvantage new television broadcasters, especially as the amendments indicate that preference in future licensing competitions should be given to existing broadcasters or those with at least three years’ experience.

Armenia’s civil society members and international partners have also criticized numerous other aspects of the amendments, including the failure to require the National Television and Radio Commission (NTRC) to provide explanations for its decisions to reject broadcasting license applications, which would increase transparency of the licensing process. The amendments also do not address long-standing concerns that the law does not ensure pluralism in the selection and appointment of members of the National Television and Radio Commission (NTRC), which is responsible for the granting of licenses. [...]

The draft Law on Television and Radio was developed by the Armenian Ministry of Economy and adopted by the National Assembly in the first reading on May 20th.
Armenia was obliged to amend the law on Television and Radio following a June 2008 European Court of Human Rights judgment finding Armenia in violation of Article 10 (Freedom of Expression) as a result of the NTRC’s repeated denials of a broadcast license to A1+, an independent television station. The court found that the Armenian legislature did not provide sufficient protection against an arbitrary decision of the licensing authorities. A1+ was taken off the air in April 2002 and has not been able to resume broadcasting despite the ECtHR judgment.

In the interest of ensuring Armenia’s full compliance with the ECtHR judgment and protecting media pluralism, we urge you to use your discretionary power and veto the amendments to the Law On Television and Radio. We strongly hope that the National Assembly will heed the concerns of Armenia’s civil society, the OSCE, and others and make the necessary changes to bring the legislation fully into line with Armenia’s international obligations."

Related: OSCE Slams Armenian TV Law

The Armenian Taverna, Manchester, UK

Who knew that in the very heart of Manchester (Albert square) there is a restaurant called The Armenian Taverna.

The menu is more Middle Eastern than what we would consider Armenian in Republic of Armenia. There were some amusing food names there too, like “dabagadz tzugnik” :) Food was tasty. Price-wise, it’s of middle range (not very cheap, not very expensive). Environment and design are very-very retro, hardly ever changed since its establishment. I felt like I was immersed into a place of decades ago. But it was kind of cute and different.

As I learned, The Armenian Taverna was founded in mid-20th century by two Armenian brothers. Currently, it’s owned by its former employee, an Armenian from Turkey (if I remember right). He was friendly and chatty guy. He loves Yerevan, and recently bought a flat there. He was constantly repeating that Armenia has a big potential but lacking human resources. I might be wrong but assume he was referring to people leaving Armenia, and Armenia not making enough efforts to attract them back, or others for that matter.

Their website is at http://www.armeniantaverna.co.uk

Shall we re-shut instead of ‘re-open’ the Liberty sq in Yerevan?

That Liberty square has been re-opened is good news, indeed. And I am not referring here to politics. However, apparently, the authorities in Armenia declare it a politics-free zone. Police stop and detain ‘operation’ is in full action resulting in scuffles and arrests. The aim is to halt any sign of protest or opposition activism in Liberty square. Using force is allowed.

It’s during reading such news I wonder that perhaps it was better to have Liberty sq shut having in place ‘alternative arrangements’ for opposition or any citizen, in fact, to exercise their civil rights. Yes, there may be provocations. Yes, some or many ordinary citizens may get annoyed, or as British would say, pissed off by shouts or rallies or whatever, instead preferring the square for cafes and entertainment only.

But there is no such thing as convenient democracy. I do not believe in ‘human rights light’. It’s either there or not.

“Modern gay classic” French Armenian Serge Avedikian won Palme d'Or 2010 at Cannes

Simply amazing news. French Armenian director, actor, writer and producer Serge Avedikian received the highest award at Cannes - Palme d'Or - Short Film, 2010, for Chienne d’Histoire (Barking Island). [Another director of Armenian origin, Lebanese Armenian video artist and filmmaker Vatche Boulghourjian was awarded 3rd prize Cinéfondation Ex-aequo, 2010, for Hinkerord Zorasune (The Fifth Column). Congrats, Vatche!!]

Congrats, dear Serge!!

Serge Avedikian made an unforgettable mark on the history of world gay cinema by playing in a very different wartime love story - Nous étions un seul homme (We Were One Man), film by renown French director Philippe Vallois in 1979.



Critiques call it the “most unusual wartime love story”, “a modern gay classic”.

(picture - Amazon)

***
For more details - see Unzipped: Gay Armenia

It's Eurovision week

Here we are. The Eurovision week is upon us. As usual, for commentary on and coverage of Eurovision related news, events, developments and intrigues - see Unzipped: Gay Armenia blog and follow me on Twitter.

Eurovision 2010: Armenia Eva Rivas and Azerbaijan Safura - my subjective comparisons

More posts will follow as/when under the label "Eurovision".

Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival demands release of renown Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi

*Yerevan, 2007 (pictures - via Golden Apricot International Film Festival Facebook page)

Yerevan's most famous GOLDEN APRICOT International Film Festival has signed the petition demanding Jafar Panahi's freedom more than a month ago, on 12 April 2010. This became known couple of days ago, when festival's press office released the statement via their official Facebook group in response to queries re festival's stance towards the imprisonment of renown Iranian director. In addition, festival's press office informs that in 2007, "when Panahi was one of the honorary guests of GOLDEN APRICOT, festival administration had numerous difficulties to deal with the Iranian embassy in Armenia and finally had to break the relationships with them."

Below is a statement in full.


To Whom It May Concern,

The entire staff of GOLDEN APRICOT IFF, being convinced that imprisonment of Jafar Panahi, the humanitarian interpreter of Iranian cinema, is unfair; joins this initiative (the information of which reached us through Ludmila Cvikova - IFFR programmer, film-critic Shahla Nahid, and other Golden Apricot-friendly circles), and signs this petition demanding his and his colleagues release from the prison.

Armenian spectators had a chance to explore the problems of women in the present Iranian reality in 2007, when Jafar Panahi's film "Offside" was shown within the framework of the 4th GOLDEN APRICOT IFF. Jafar Panahi deserves the right to be heard and must be given the freedom to create.

GOLDEN APRICOT International Film Festival
www.gaiff.am
***
Related:

Jafar Panahi's message from prison

Juliette Binoche sobs at news of hunger strike

Cannes contender Abbas Kiarostami demands release of Iranian film-maker

Arevik and David: story of immigration, Skype love, detention and troubles (Bulgaria - Armenia)

Thanks to Global Voices Online, I learned of this complicated immigration and internet love story of young Armenian guy David Arutyunyan [probably - Harutyunyan], with no legal status in Bulgaria, and Arevik Shmavonyan, a pregnant Armenian citizen who is currently being kept at a detention centre in Bulgaria.

David has been living in Bulgaria from the age of 6 when his parents immigrated from Armenia in 1993. Since then they passed through lots of legal and humanitarian troubles, but eventually David’s parents and sister were granted legal documents. However, David was refused a legal status, as reportedly the Armenian side denied clearing the paper work demanding he serves in the army. I see big problem here, providing all the info I am reading is correct, of course. It’s ridiculous that this guy should be held responsible for ‘avoiding’ military service as he was taken to Bulgaria when he was 6 years old. If the Armenian authorities cleared his parents’ paper work (who were responsible for immigrating to Bulgaria, in the first instance), they should have done so for David too.

David went to primary school, which is mandatory under Bulgarian law. When he was 14, Bulgarian authorities finally allowed his family to obtain Bulgarian ID papers, provided that Armenian authorities would also do their part of the paperwork and give them a go-ahead. So David's parents obtained ID documents for themselves and for their daughter (David's sister). However, Armenian authorities refused to give a go-ahead for David because, according to them, he had to return to Armenia to serve 3 years in the army.

Now about Arevik. As per Bulgarian bloggers’ reports, she met David on Skype, and they were in online relationship for 5 years (!). Around 3 months ago, Arevik came to Bulgaria to meet him in person. The problem I see here is that David had already been in troubles because of lacking legal papers in Bulgaria, so he should have known that Arevik would inevitably face problems. I may only assume that they thought having a baby will help them both in facilitating their legal status in Bulgaria.

Currently Arevik is at (immigrants) detention centre Busmanci where people kept in prison-like conditions, according to the reports by Bulgarian bloggers. In fact, it’s been dubbed “The Bulgarian Guanatanamo”.

In Busmanci, Arevik found out that she was pregnant. Her pregnancy is problematic, causing cyclic vomiting and severe eating and sleeping problems. Arevik has been in Busmanci already for one month, and for this time has been taken twice to hospital unconscious. Nevertheless, she is still kept there, in a room with about 10 other women and without adequate care. Although Arevik has done nothing wrong, her release is not in sight, and her life is in peril as well as the life of her unborn child.

Maya’s Corner writes: “In an April 29 Mediapool article by Irina Nedeva titled Arevik and David - a love story between Montana, Erevan and Busmanci, the head of the Young Armenians' Charity Union Victor Baramov is quoted to say that his organization has many other examples of people without a legal status in Bulgaria despite having lived here for 20 or more years”.

*picture - via Svetla Encheva's blog

Activists against leniency re Nubarashen child abuse case trial in Yerevan

"A former teacher of Yerevan’s boarding school has pled guilty to “obscene acts” against underage students and now faces 18 months in prison.

During a court trial on Wednesday, Levon Avagyan, whose actions were described by the prosecutor as pedophilia, also asked for a “speedy trial” amid protest from some of the victims who consider such an imprisonment term too mild a punishment for “a person who has committed repugnant acts for years.” (ArmeniaNow)

For more background info about the case - see Armenia: Uncovering evidence of sexual abuse in Nubarashen boarding school N11 for special needs children leads to activist being charged with libel

There was a protest action today by human rights activists in Yerevan against leniency in dealing with the child abuse cases. Next protest is planned for 24 May to coincide with the court proceedings.

This picture by one of the activists Mamikon Hovsepyan became one of the most widely re-posted today among Armenian users on Facebook.

Below is a video by Women's Resource Centre in Yerevan from today's court hearings.

Video description reads: "one of the former students, a victim herself of teacher Avagyan's abuse, was outraged when she heard that the prosecutor is suggesting only 18 months for the pedophile and she started shouting in the court asking for justice for the rapes and abuses that the teacher did during his work in the boarding school for the past 30 years or so. This woman was not allowed to press charges because many years have passed, according to the RA law."

PINK & friends make history in Armenia by marking IDAHO and turning Yerevan sky rainbow

May is truly a historic month for Armenians. Starting this year, it will become even double-triple historic for LGBT Armenians, their friends... [...]

Today, on 17 May, for the first time ever, the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (IDAHO) was celebrated in Armenia. PINK Armenia & friends organised a flashmob with balloons in the heart of Yerevan. "We let the colorful balloons fly in the sky as a symbolic move to combat hate, ignorance and intolerance, to combat homophobia and transphobia," say organisers.

PINK Armenia & friends made history today by turning Yerevan sky rainbow. For me, they are the modern day heroes in Armenia. Their spirit, passion, determination make me hopeful that after all there is bright future for Armenia. They are the PERSONS.AM (in capital letters). I hope their spirit won't be broken... EVER!!!

*For more details with pictures and video - see Unzipped: Gay Armenia



Read also: Armenia aligns with the EU statement on International Day Against Homophobia

In a related great news: Gay marriages are now legal in Portugal!!

Weird elephant :) South Bank, London

*My previous posts:
Elephant parade, London
Rainbow elephant, London

Be careful: Date rape drug in Armenia is a reality

According to the Women's Resource Centre in Armenia, they received number of calls from women and young girls to their hotline alerting on this issue. You don't have to panic or stop enjoying your time and having great night outs with drinks or not. This is an info for you to consider and be careful, to understand that using date rape drugs is a reality in Armenia.

Wikipedia: "Date rape drug refers to a drug that can be used to assist in the commission of a sexual assault, such as date rape. Drugs used to facilitate rape may have sedative, hypnotic, dissociative, and/or amnesiac effects, and can be added to a food or drink without the victim's knowledge.

The act of adding such substances to drinks is known as "drink spiking". The reasons for drink spiking range from personal amusement or maliciousness to theft or (sexual) assault".
***
Զգուշացում

Արդեն որերորդ դեպքն է, որ կանայք և երիտասարդ աղջիկները զանգում են մեր Սեռական բռնության ճգնաժամային կենտրոնի թեժ գծին /0800-01-280/ և հայտնում, որ իրենք անհասկանալի կերպով խնջույքի ընթացքում կորցրել են իրենց գիտակցությունը /քնել/ մեկ բաժակ ալկոհոլ խմելուց հետո, արթնանալով զգացել են սուր ցավեր սեռական օրգանների շրջանում և հասկացել, որ բռնաբարվել են: Հնարավոր է, որ այս ամենը Ձեզ իրական չի թվում և որ շատ դեպքերում մենք նման երևույթներ դիտում ենք ընդամենը գեղարվեստական ֆիլմերում, բայց ցավոք նման դեպքերը իրականություն են և բավականին հաճախ են պատահում:

Սիրելի կանայք և աղջիկներ զգույշ եղեք խնջույքների ընթացքում ինչ-որ բան խմելուց, քանի որ շատ հնարավոր է, որ ձեր խմիչքի մեջ որևէ թմրեցնող կամ քնեցնող նյութ խառնած լինեն: Զգույշ եղեք նույնիսկ, երբ տվյալ խմիչքն առաջարկում է Ձեր իսկ ընկերը կամ զուգընկերը, քանի որ շատ դեպքերում դա արվում է հենց ծանոթ մարդկանց կողմից, ում մենք վստահում ենք և շատ դեպքերում մատուցողի կամ "բարմենի" հետ պայմանավորվածության արդյունքում: Շատ կարևոր է, որ երբ առաջին անգամ ինչ - որ քիչ ծանոթ, միգուցե առաջին հայացքից վստահելի թվացող, անձնավորության հետ պատրաստվում եք գնալ որևէ ակումբ, գնացեք միգուցե ընկերուհու կամ մեկ այլ վստահելի անձի հետ, ուշադիր եղեք: Ես չեմ փորձում վախեցնել Ձեզ, ուղղակի մի փոքր ուշադիր և զգույշ լինել եմ խնդրում:

Եթե նման իրավիճակում եք հայտնվել, անպայման պետք է որքան հնարավոր է շուտ գնալ և բժշկական ստուգում անցնել /սեռավարակներ և արյուն/: Տարբեր թմրեցնող նյութեր մի քանի օրվա /շաբաթվա/ ընթացքում արյան մեջ մնում են և կարելի է դրանց առկայության մասին վկայող ապացույցներ ունենալ:

Ամեն դեպքում միշտ հիշեք, որ օգնության և աջակցության համար կարող եք դիմել մեր կենտրոն` տեղեկատվություն ստանալու նպատակով:

Անուշ

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Cameron and Clegg: A very British “civil partnership”

It’s funny how British commentators refer to Lib Dems + Conservatives coalition government deal (Nick Clegg + David Cameron) as a “marriage”, or “civil partnership”. [gay marriages in form of civil partnerships became legal in the UK since December 2005] Then some of them remind that 50% of marriages end up in divorce :) This is a very real not so honeymoon-y perspective for this newly formed "power couple". Yes, they say opposites attract, but there is truly an ocean between Clegg and Cameron, or is there?

But the most entertaining discovery for me was that Lib Dems leader Nick Clegg has Russian aristocratic roots.

Wikipedia: "Clegg's paternal grandmother, Kira von Engelhardt, was a Russian Baroness whose German-Russian aristocratic family fled the Bolsheviks after the 1917 Russian Revolution. Clegg's paternal grandfather, Hugh Anthony Clegg, was the editor of the British Medical Journal for 35 years. Clegg's great-great-grandfather, the Russian nobleman Ignaty Zakrevsky, was attorney general of the imperial Russian senate. His great-great aunt was the writer, Baroness Moura Budberg.

Clegg's Dutch mother, Hermance van den Wall Bake, was, along with her family, interned by the Japanese in Batavia (Jakarta) in the Dutch East Indies. She met Clegg's father during a visit to England in 1956, and they married on 1 August 1959.

Clegg is multilingual: he speaks English, Dutch, French, German, and Spanish. His background has informed his politics. He says, "There is simply not a shred of racism in me, as a person whose whole family is formed by flight from persecution, from different people in different generations. It’s what I am. It’s one of the reasons I am a liberal." His Dutch mother instilled in him "a degree of scepticism about the entrenched class configurations in British society".

His wife - Miriam González Durántez, is Spanish. Wikipedia: "They dated for several years in Brussels before they decided to marry. They married in 2000 and have three young children: Antonio, Alberto and Miguel. She insisted on Spanish names if they were to have the family name "Clegg." She is Roman Catholic, and together with her husband they agreed that their children will be raised as such, though her husband has said he does not believe in God."

*picture - by Number 10

Elephant parade, London

Elephant parade is a campaign aimed at highlighting the crisis faced by endangered Asian elephant. Over 250 life-size elephants painted by various artists or celebrities are being placed at various locations in central London. They will be on display until early July. All elephants will then be up for an auction to raise money for the cause.

I took these pictures around Leicester square, in the heart of London’s entertainment district.

*see also:
Rainbow elephant, London
Weird elephant :) South Bank, London