Moscow is installing Wi-Fi in its cemeteries
Moscow is taking steps to ensure that no one ever goes through the awkward experience of seeking out Nikita Khrushchev's grave without knowing who he is. The Russian city's historic cemeteries are getting a 21st century upgrade as Ritual, the funeral service that manages Moscow's cemeteries, installs Wi-Fi on its grounds.
"These cemeteries are like open-air museums. People often come and find themselves standing in front of a grave and want to know more about the person lying there," Ritual spokeswoman Lilya Lvovskaya told AFP.
For now the Wi-Fi is rolling out in just three historic cemeteries, where writers Nikolai Gogol, Anton Chekhov, and first Russian president Boris Yeltsin are buried. If all goes well, the company hopes to expand internet access to the rest of the 133 graveyards in the city.
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So the next time you find yourself in Moscow standing before Khrushchev's tomb and scratching your head, keep in mind you can now pull out your phone — and quickly be reminded that he led the Soviet Union through the height of the Cold War.
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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
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