Having heard the psychologist’s explanation that “This is Russia,” Stanton tried to move the conversation forward. He asked her whether she thought that Russians deserved better than a society in which people so often try to explain or excuse things by saying, “This is Russia.”

“We have given up hoping,” she replied.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/briton-seeks-answers-after-russian-girlfriend-perishes-in-kazan-jet-crash/491692.html