The article discusses the challenges faced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Russia, where religious minorities, including Jehovah's Witnesses, face persecution. Olga Trunova, a Russian convert, shares her experience of being shunned by her community due to her faith. The church, unofficially known as the Mormon church, grew in Russia during the 1990s but has seen a decline in membership due to political pressure and anti-terrorism legislation that prohibits religious proselytization. Despite this, the church plans to build its first temple in Russia. Members face discrimination and are often mistaken for other religious groups or viewed with suspicion due to political tensions between Russia and the U.S. The article also touches on the cultural differences between Russian and American Latter-day Saints and how the church's requirements can alienate casual members in Russia.

The article discusses the experiences of non-binary individuals in Russia, where the Russian language inherently assigns a gender to almost every word. Valeria, a non-binary person, shares how online anonymity initially allowed them to avoid specifying gender. The article highlights the challenges non-binary Russians face due to the gendered nature of their language and how they are creating new forms of expression to convey their identity. Alex Pershai, a linguistics professor, notes the sexist elements in Slavic languages. Non-binary individuals like Sasha and Seroye Fioletovoye are using different pronouns or inventing new ones to express their gender fluidity. The article also mentions the efforts of So*ni and the 'Language Neutralization Laboratory' project by the LGBTQ+ group Magma to make Russian more inclusive.

The World Cup in Russia reignited concerns about 'festival children,' a term for mixed-race children born to Russian mothers after international events. The term originated from the 1957 World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow. Despite the Soviet Union's early stance on multiculturalism and racial tolerance, a decree in 1947 banned marriages between Soviet citizens and foreigners, reflecting underlying prejudices. These sentiments persisted, and with the recent rise in Russian nationalism, the myth of 'festival children' has taken on negative connotations. State Duma deputy Tamara Pletnyova's comments warning Russian women against relationships with foreign men during the World Cup exemplify the ongoing racial tensions. The article also explores the historical context of these attitudes and their manifestation in contemporary Russia.

The World Cup in Russia reignited concerns about 'festival children,' a term for mixed-race children born to Russian mothers after international events. The term originated from the 1957 World Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow. Despite the Soviet Union's early stance on multiculturalism and racial tolerance, a decree in 1947 banned marriages between Soviet citizens and foreigners, reflecting underlying prejudices. These sentiments persisted, and with the recent rise in Russian nationalism, the myth of 'festival children' has taken on negative connotations. State Duma deputy Tamara Pletnyova's comments warning Russian women against relationships with foreign men during the World Cup exemplify the ongoing racial tensions. The article also explores the historical context of these attitudes and their manifestation in contemporary Russia.