There is an important piece of Alaska Russia history not mentioned in the article – following glasnost, when so many people – especially in far eastern Russia/Siberia were in dire straits, Alaska state constitutional delegate and former State Senator Victor Fisher established channels of communication and transportation and food , clothing and medical aid with our Siberian counterparts. 
 Victor's father was a foreign correspondent for the New York Times  stationed in Moscow  prior to WWII. 
As a boy Victor and his brothers attended excellent schools in Moscow where the elite of the communist party and foreign officials and diplomats  all sent their children. 
World War II found American, German, Russian childhood friends in Moscow parting ways to support their nations. Victors enlisted in the US Army and lost most contact with his childhood colleagues until glasnost.
Victor  then did an amazing job  in setting up Alaska's post-Cold War still mutually beneficial relationships Siberia.