[x]

This person was under the strong influence of Western subculture," said Sergey Mikheyev, a political analyst speaking on a nightly current-affairs show on Russian state television.

Russia's not a part of the West?

[BenLurkin]

No. It is not, never has been, and probably never will be.

[Rebelbase]

For the most part the West begins where the funky onion dome churches end.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Geographically, Russia has 11 local times (time zones) from Kaliningrad to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy. Eight of them, I think, are in Asia, three in Europe (West of the Urals.)

So you could say it's geographically, mostly Asia (the East) not Europe (the West.)

Demographically, by far most of their population is west of the Urals, and Slavic in race and language, but they comprise many, many small nationalities as well. For instance, my son Vanya was listed as Koryak by nationality, though te Koryak "nation" is less than 8,000 indigenous people in the Russian Far East.

My son's homeland is obviously Far East. What it is culturally is much more complicated.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Russia's not a part of the West?

Nope.

The reason St Petersburg was built was to be a "window on the west".

Russia is not east or west they are themselves.

And they will go along with the west if they perceive a gain and stick a spoke in our wheel if they see it might be to their advantage. Or just because it amuses them.