Artisans struggle with sanctions and rising inflation

(25 Jun 2022) RUSSIA WOODEN CRAFTS SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS RESTRICTION SUMMARY: LENGTH: 06:22 ASSOCIATED PRESS Semyonov, Russia - 17 June 2022 1. Close of box painted in Khokhloma style 2. Close of plate as artist paints it 3. Mid of artists painting 4. Close of cup as artist paints it 5. Close of items painted in Khokhloma style 6. Mid of artist 7. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Alexey Usanov, General Director of Khokhloma Painting: "Foreign exchange earnings from exports of our enterprise used to be higher than that of the Central Bank in the Nizhny Novgorod region." Reporter (off-camera): "And what happened? Why did foreigners stop buying?" Usanov: "Well, the trend has changed. The buyer has changed, plus various restrictions on imports, on trade. They have made an impact." 8. Pan right of empty workshop 9. Various of worker cutting wooden spoons 10. Wide of worker in workshop ASSOCIATED PRESS Semyonov, Russia - 18 June 2022 11. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Natalya Dudina, General Director of Gorodetsk Golden Embroidery: "Right now, folk crafts simply need to survive, because the situation is very tough not only in folk crafts but also in our country. We need to survive - this is the most important thing. And we very much hope that all the actions of the government of the Nizhny Novgorod region, the government of the Russian Federation, will be directed precisely toward the survival of the enterprises." 12. Zoom in of embroidered scarf 13. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Natalya Dudina, General Director of Gorodetsk Golden Embroidery: "My sales have gone down a lot. Gold embroidery during this period is selling with a lot of difficulties." Reporter (off-camera) "How much is your scarf?" Dudina: "This one is 700 Roubles (11 USD)" Reporter: "Is it expensive or cheap?" Dudina: "Before, they would buy it without even thinking about it, now they think about it twice: to buy or not to buy..." 14. Aerial shot of trade fair ++MUTE++ 15. Wide of costumed characters at entrance with sign reading (Russian) "Village of masters" 16. Mid of clay master Andrey Vasilenko whistling for buyers 17. Close of hand-made whistles on sale 18. Mid of Vasilenko showing how to whistle UPSOUND (Russian) Andrey Vasilenko, clay master: "We are pouring water into the bird." 19. Close of money being given to Vasilenko by buyer 20. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Andrey Vasilenko, clay sculptor: ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++ "If there were more events such as this one, it would be good. In fact, I would advise the authorities to create a kind of free-market for artisans to trade, not some kind of obligations to set up outlets, but free sites. So that people like me would only pay for garbage disposal there, for public services." ASSOCIATED PRESS Semyonov, Russia - 17 June 2022 21. Wide of wooden logs at Khokhloma painting production site 22. Pan right of workers carrying wooden bars 23. Mid of worker cutting out wooden item 24. Pan right of wooden items 25. Mid of artist Galina Tarasova painting item 26. Close of painte