August 25, 1998 – Russian archival footage capturing Moscow on this date

TVDATA.TV archival footage capturing Moscow on this date. Rare 1990s visuals, perfect for documentaries, historical projects, or media productions seeking authentic period imagery.

Moscow, Russia – Date August 25, 1998 – – Residents voiced concerns over currency fluctuations and the economic situation in Russia amid rising instability.

August 25, 1998 – Moscow, Russia

“I exchanged dollars,” said one man, adding that banks currently have almost no currency available.

Attempts to cash American Express traveler’s checks were unsuccessful, he noted. Many people are reportedly trying to convert their rubles into more stable currencies due to uncertainty over the future.

Denis, another interviewee, stated that he does not fear political upheaval personally but acknowledged broader concerns. “Even if the government tries to manage, local authorities continue business as usual,” he said, describing corruption at regional levels. He noted that financial instability has little impact on his daily life.

Andrey from Kazakhstan observed that the dollar exchange rate has been volatile in recent days, blaming economic instability and government manipulation. He said the financial crisis mainly affects small businesses and commercial enterprises, while ordinary citizens feel less immediate impact.

Several pensioners expressed worry about rising prices and the potential for social unrest. “If salaries are delayed, demonstrations could occur,” one said, warning of a “hot autumn” if economic conditions continue. Others emphasized that reforms and government promises have often failed to produce tangible improvements, citing inflation and corruption as persistent issues.

The interviews reflect a mix of anxiety and resignation, highlighting the difficulties Russians face amid a volatile currency market and broader economic uncertainty.

An English translation of the transcript you provided by Russian-english.com.

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[music]

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[applause]

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Let me ask you a question. Have you exchanged dollars or rubles recently?
I exchanged.

0:02:24.480 – 0:02:32.760
I exchanged dollars. Yes. Do you think the dollar rate won’t rise anymore?
Well, certainly, I can’t make any predictions. I know that at Sberbank, there’s almost no currency—

0:02:32.760 – 0:02:37.080
no dollars, no rubles. It’s very hard to get cash. I tried to cash an American Express travel check,
but I couldn’t.

August 25, 1998 – Russian archival footage capturing Moscow on this date

0:02:37.080 – 0:02:43.160
Do you think many people are selling rubles instead?
As far as I understand, people are trying to buy dollars, because it’s unclear what will happen next.

0:02:43.160 – 0:02:52.880
Everyone is trying to convert their money into a more stable currency. Do you think the government could fall because of this?
Well, I’d like to believe what clients and people are saying, but from my experience today, these words aren’t confirmed.

0:02:52.880 – 0:03:05.120
As far as I remember, representatives from the Central Bank assured us that all currency operations would continue. Even Sberbank, which is closely tied to the state,

0:03:05.120 – 0:03:12.240
doesn’t hold any currency. Do you have a family?
No. Are you afraid that some political events could happen?
No, probably not.

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What’s your name? Denis.
Denis, thank you.

0:03:16.920 – 0:03:28.800
No rubles. Do you think the dollar will rise in the coming days?

[music segments omitted]

0:06:32.320 – 0:06:37.200
Well, you know, I don’t really think about it. I’m from the provinces, and we don’t pay much attention. We get paid in rubles monthly, and that’s what matters.

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Do people exchange rubles for dollars to get something more stable?
Yes, they do, quite a lot. But I think if authorities got things in order and the tax service cracked down on the bosses…

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…then the government’s role in this crisis would be clearer. I don’t blame them—what can they do when local administrations run things the old way?

0:07:05.640 – 0:07:34.080
You just need to look around any city, see what kinds of dachas the leaders build, and you’ll understand. Most decisions get lost at the local level. In the capital, we don’t see much. What’s in the newspapers doesn’t reach us; corruption continues.

0:07:34.080 – 0:08:04.440
Financial crises don’t affect the provinces much. Do you think so? I don’t follow it, so I can’t say. And I’m not speaking for Russia’s future. I want my children to live in a reasonably calm country. It would be nice if the economy were better too. When we grew up, there was at least some perspective—you studied, you got a job. Now it’s harder; each person must rely on themselves.

0:08:04.440 – 0:08:45.440
What’s your name? Andrey. Thank you. You bought anything in Moscow? No, we’re visiting. Did you feel the dollar rate changing? Not yet, we just arrived by train. Have you heard it changed a lot in the last two days? Yes, because the country is in disorder. The economy is unstable. The government manipulates the rate: today it drops, tomorrow it rises. Ordinary people might not notice, but officials profit from it.

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There’s a big difference between southern Russia and central Russia, e.g., Moscow and Sochi—very different dollar prices. If you go to an exchange office, they might buy at 6, sell at 9. Financial markets fluctuate; dollars fall or rise. Do you think people’s lives will worsen next week because of the financial crisis? Of course. It affects unemployment, prices for gas and food. Who suffers most? Small business owners suffer most. Ordinary people at the lower levels suffer less.

0:09:51.240 – 0:11:07.360
Do you think the government should resign? Maybe change some finance officials or tell them to stop “playing games.” Millions suffer while they manipulate currency.

0:11:07.360 – 0:11:59.000
The dollar is expensive for businesses, too. Prices rise—flowers cost 200–300 rubles more. We pay in rubles, not dollars. Financial crises are hard for businesses; customers still buy, but losses happen.

0:11:59.000 – 0:13:06.320
Andrey, do you follow economic news? Not much. Do you notice the dollar rate changing? Yes, but it doesn’t scare me. Will you buy dollars? No. Do you think this is a real financial crisis? Probably, yes. Will it affect your life? For me, no. For pensioners, yes—their prices rise. People are helpless; they can’t change the situation. Could there be a revolution? Possibly, but unlikely.

0:13:06.320 – 0:16:46.560

[many segments describing local reactions, inflation expectations, distrust in government, difficulties with currency exchange, and opinions on leadership]

0:16:46.560 – 0:17:03.280
Do you fear the financial crisis affecting your life?
Not for me personally, because my income is in dollars. But 20 million people earn in rubles and will feel the impact.

0:17:03.280 – 0:17:38.720
The currency corridor was expected, but the ruble rose faster than expected. Forecasts: the dollar could reach 9 rubles. People doubt that changing the government will improve the economy, because structural problems are beyond individual leaders.

0:17:38.720 – 0:18:01.040
No clear presidential candidate is available to fix the issues. Seven years of reforms led to instability. Many ordinary people feel corruption is rampant, like historical “robber barons” in the U.S.

0:18:01.040 – 0:20:10.480

[many segments of interviews with tourists and locals expressing distrust of government, financial instability, desire for stronger leadership, and concern about inflation]

0:20:10.480 – 0:21:00.840
People regret not exchanging rubles for dollars sooner. They feel the government’s promises are unreliable; currency fluctuations continue.

0:21:58.680 – 0:25:31.200

[music and short clips of cash machines, currency attempts, and discussions of oil and gas prices, business stability, and hope for improvement]

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August 25 1998 Russian archival footage

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The video shows Russians talking about rising dollar rates and financial instability. Many struggle to get cash and worry about the ruble’s falling value. People try to convert rubles into stable currencies, but banks limit access. Visitors from other regions notice price and exchange differences. Ordinary citizens feel the effects more than officials.

Interviewees complain about corruption and opaque government decisions. Small businesses and pensioners suffer most. Prices for goods and services rise fast. Many think structural problems run deep. Trust in authorities is low.

Some residents feel safer if they earn in dollars. Still, uncertainty worries everyone. People fear inflation, economic collapse, and social instability. They hope for reforms but doubt real change will come.

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