Penza, 10 December 2017. PenzaNews. After the Internet resource has been updated, the website of the Penza region government will be available in the English and German languages. This was stated in a messaged posted on the website of the highest executive body of the regional state power.

Photo: Pnzreg.ru

It emphasizes that information available in foreign languages is intended "to promote a positive image of the constituent entity of the Russian Federation and to enhance the region's investment attractiveness to potential partners".

"An important difference between foreign and Russian versions of the website is presence of the section 'Tips for trips', which contains information about Penza hotels, attractions of the region as well as data on medical institutions," the text says.

The structure of both versions is similar to the Russian one.

The centre in the visible part of the website is devoted to news in Penza and the region. However, the translation lags behind.

Photo: Pnzreg.ru

Thus, according to data as of 14.00 Sunday, December 10, when opening the "News" section at the English version of the website the reader could see only one message dated December 8, three messages – December 7, messages dated December 6, 5, 4 and 1 – one article per day, as well as a couple of November news articles.

However, information was only partially adapted for foreigners. For example, the picture illustrating the trade turnover in the Penza region in nine months of the year 2017 remained in Russian.

Photo: Pnzreg.ru

Not all information on the authorities has been translated yet. Ivan Belozertsev's biography was fully translated into English and is available in the relevant section, while career development of other officials is provided only in Russian.

Photo: Pnzreg.ru

Formally, the site contains sections intended for potential tourists, but their practical usefulness is doubtful.

In particular, the section "Penza region for all" states that there is everything necessary for recreation in the region — diverse nature and a developed infrastructure. In support of these words, foreigners are invited to watch a film about the Penza region, though, in Russian.

Photo: Pnzreg.ru

At the same time, nothing is said about places where a foreigner may turn in order to get an English-speaking guide and what kind of tours around Penza and the region are available to tourists.

The section "Tips for trips" designed especially for foreign language speakers contains telephone numbers and links to websites of hotels and hospitals, but all of them direct to Internet resources in Russian.

There is no description of the mechanism whereby a citizen of another country may receive medical treatment in Penza if needed.

Photo: Pnzreg.ru

There are also some flaws in the "Events" section. At the moment, it contains names of only about three events without any additional information. In particular, it is impossible to find out the cost of tickets, whether one can purchase them over the Internet, and pay by card. A part of the text on the left side was not translated at all.

Photo: Pnzreg.ru

The German version of the Penza government website is quite the same as the English one.

As previously, translation of news from Russian into foreign languages is conducted with delay: at the German version of the website one of the messages is dated December 10.

Photo: Pnzreg.ru

Other sections have the same flaws as the English version. For example, it is not possible to learn biographies of officials who are at the head of regional departments. The main information is provided in Russian only.