Russian Remnants among Religious Relics

A fancy plant holder - bougainvillea growing out of the rear access doors to this Russian BMP APC

We saw this vehicle parked up in the front of the hotel in Bahir Dar - I asked why a Russian APC (armoured personnel carrier) was on display in the hotel - "souvenir of the war from the 70s" was the answer.  At that time the Derg, a socialist revolutionary party took control of Ethiopia backed by the Soviets who, of course, flooded the area with 'aid' - in this case an 8-man wheeled BMP 1 (I think this is the model - most were tracked).

This could hold 8 troops, plus a driver and commander. 
It was not only totally amphibious but it was also designed to provide protection from nuclear and biological warfare as well.

Quoted from Wikipedia: "The  BMP-1 is a Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty 1, meaning "infantry fighting vehicle".  The BMP-1 was the first mass-produced infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) of USSR.  It was called the M-1967, BMP and BMP-76PB by NATO before its correct designation was known".