Python: encoding/decoding a string starting with \x

If a string starts with \x (e.g., '\xea \xe1\xeb\xe8\xe6\xed\xe5\xec\xf3' for cyrillic) decode it using 'string_escape' :

string=string.decode('string_escape')

Cyrillic support in Latex (ubuntu version)

Error in TexMaker: Package babel Error: No Cyrillic encoding definition files were found.

Solution:
install package: texlive-lang-cyrillic

apt-get install texlive-lang-cyrillic