It is almost 25 years ago, in Moscow, during the great ruble crisis of 1998.
I had dinner with a business associate. Nice restaurant with good food and good wines. As more wine flowed, my questions about life in Russia became bolder and my host’s answers more candid.
I don’t remember my question, but his answer to it still: “Mister Robert, you know, in Russia you can never predict the past†
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A version of this article also appeared in NRC on the morning of March 10, 2022