The old babushka's squinting eyes seemed to recognize him, but she indicated no familiarity.

"To the old babushkas who treated children, the sons and grandsons," Mr. Spasov says.

"To the old babushkas, so that those sons and grandsons will never get sick."

They want an old babushka who won't try to do anything, so they can keep their opponents off the council and pursue their own agendas.

An old babushka with a crowbar could get into that institute, but it's still risky.

The scenes were often cruel, with the tiniest old babushkas nudged aside.

A day spent talking to old babushkas should have some reward.

Meanwhile, old babushkas and abandoned children starved in the streets.

The older babushka who had seen his identification card spoke to a woman at her side as they departed, and more heads turned to look at him.

In Leningrad, the old babushkas told their grandchildren what the city had once been named.