Russia’s economic forecast is not looking good, with the central bank last month lowering its growth projections - though officials maintain the country is not sliding into a recession. But in Russia’s far east, thousands of kilometers and several time zones away from Moscow, the effects of the economic downturn are obvious. On the shores of Lake Baikal in Russia’s Buryat republic, unemployment, meager pensions, and low salaries are taking their toll -- as reporter Ricardo Marquina learned. Jim Randle narrates his report for VOA.