Pride precedes (Russian) downfall: Banners and inscriptions in the Cyrillic alphabet are disappearing from businesses in Prague
Inside the seemingly small shop, which from the street appeared to be about the size of a shoe box, only to be surprised by its spaciousness and the ingenious distribution of various goods from the former Soviet bloc, was always lively.
Perhaps it was also due to the fact that Russian and its related languages are much more sonorous and melodious than Czech, in any case, the door didn’t break open here. And it wasn’t just because a lot of citizens of the USSR, later the Russian Federation, always lived in the vicinity of Bubenečská and in Prague 6.
No wonder. The proximity of the embassies, the Prague Castle, and the characteristic character and architectural style in which a large part of Dejvice and Bubenče were built made many people from the Eastern Bloc feel that they were actually at home. The only difference is that here they live in a prominent and much safer neighborhood, where it is a joy to live and their lives do not have to be guarded by a high fence, barbed wire and numerous security guards.
A number of Russian businesses, mainly with food, gradually grew up in Letná, Bubenč and Dejvice. It is known about people from the former USSR, and especially Russians, that they do not want to have their favorite foods and snacks taken away from them in a foreign second home. Even the chattering locals gradually got used to the shops, which were quite exotic for many. And that’s saying something because they had to deal with the Asian convenience stores. What about the fact that they usually found more goods in them than in the traditional Unity. Swearing was the same.
The peaceful coexistence was significantly affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A number of those who regularly went to Russian shops, whether for caviar, vodka or “just” excellent desserts, suddenly rejected these places. What about the fact that this gesture mainly affected rank-and-file staff and those who toiled in the store from morning to night and for whom the store often meant the only income and existing security.
As it happens in similar cases, chips started flying when the forest was cut down. Customers decreased, but hate reactions and demonstrative boycotts increased. Therefore, owners and operators prefer to gradually remove banners and signs that did not unnecessarily draw attention to themselves. Whether it was Russian adjectives or inscriptions in the alphabet. The Czechs are particularly irritating.
Shops were a much more frequent target of vandals who felt the need to vent their frustration by destroying private property. It’s as if they don’t understand that the Russian leaders and those who pull the strings won’t destroy the convenience store by spraying it.
Instead of Russian Food on Bubenečská, there are already only Groceries. And there are many such places around Prague. The range of goods has changed during the war in Ukraine, that’s true, but again so significantly, which the majority of customers acknowledge with relief.
Only thanks to the invasion, some were surprised to find out that many of the products they liked actually did not come from Russia, as they had thought for a long time, but from some of the post-Soviet countries.