Russia did not hear Akhedzhakova – MK
Just in Moscow, at the Vakhtangov Theater, they presented the Star of the Theater-goer award. In the most honorable nomination “Stage Legend” it was given to Lia Akhedzhakova – the Order of Merit to the Fatherland, professional awards. But the speech of the “legend” of state TV channels was not shown, although she did not speak for long and there was nothing criminal in her words. She did not call for violence, did not incite discord, did not offend the feelings; in her speech there was no racism, extremism – nothing at all that could be condemned under the Criminal Code or at least as a violation of moral standards.
The speech contained one mistake, but we will talk about it below, but for now, here are excerpts from her speech.
AKHEDZHAKOVA. To be or not to be? – that is the question. The meanings began to change. Here is “legend” – a great word. But when the historical memory of the people, the tragic memory, when the history is wrapped in a beautiful legend, and instead of the true history we are with a legend. Moreover, it must be adhered to. Further: “patriotism” is a great meaning. And suddenly it turns out that some group of insulted patriots, who call themselves SERB, comes to the theater without seeing the performance, and demands to eradicate mistakes in the performance. Incredible kind of censorship. Moreover, they threaten that if they do not listen to them … Other insulted patriots are called “war veterans.” But I can’t imagine real veterans running around theaters and censoring. And these people write denunciations about a performance that they haven’t seen, then an investigator comes to the theater … What is a “foreign agent”. This is a spy, destroying our lives. But why is the title of foreign agent awarded to the best people in the profession? The best journalists, the best human rights defenders … And the whole country sees it… And most importantly, our Memorial (recognized as a foreign agent in Russia. – Approx. ed.). I have nowhere to say that. But the theater people are sitting here, and I know that we understand each other. The fact that Memorial is a spy, a foreign agent is absurd. Petrozavodsk head of Memorial, Yuri Dmitriev, has been bullied for the fifth year. That gives 13 years of imprisonment, now 15. For the fact that he restores the names of those shot during the Great Terror, shot for nothing. The names of thousands of people who were buried in Sandarmokh. This is the hero of our time! And we all over the country watch how this person has been tortured for the fifth year …
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Even if it seems to you that Akhedzhakova is wrong, you still agree: she did not say anything illegal. That, her speech is one hundred percent of the law, because it fully complies with Article 29 of the Constitution of Russia (as amended on 07/01/2020):
Everyone is guaranteed freedom of thought and speech. Everyone has the right to freely search, distribute in any legal way. Freedom of the media is guaranteed. Censorship is prohibited.
Thus, from the point of view of the Constitution, Akhedzhakova’s speech is flawless and legitimate. Why was she received with such enthusiasm as she accomplished the feat? Social networks – quoted, admired: “Civic courage!”, “Desperate courage!” etc.
These raptures say something about our time. The private opinion of the 83-year-old actress is perceived by society as an act of unthinkable courage, as a feat – breastfeeding on the embrasure.
What is the mistake of Akhedzhakova and the commentators? It seems to them (and it sounds in her speech). Akhedzhakova twice said “the whole country sees it”, “we are watching the whole country”.
Unfortunately, this is not so. Here are the data fresh all-Russian polls.
Question. Did you know that the authorities announced the Dozhd TV channel to be foreign agents? (recognized as a foreign agent in Russia. – Approx. ed.) and a number of other independent media outlets?
In newspapers, etc. etc. What is the artist Akhedzhakova – recently there was a problem of foreign agents, so to speak, a discussion between Russian President Putin and Nobel Prize laureate Muratov – internationally, under the gun of the planet’s international television companies … And now, attention, the results of the survey:
I know – 15%
Heard something – 19%
I hear about it for the first time – 65%
That’s the whole conversation. The overwhelming majority have never heard of foreign media agents. Those 19% who allegedly “heard something” – we do not know whether they told the truth, or did not want to admit their ignorance. After all, “I heard something” is “I don’t know”, but in a milder form. So in fact 84% do not know.
Towards the end of her speech, Akhedzhakova said: “And the most important thing is our Memorial… We are the whole country,” and so on. etc.
But here is another all-Russian poll conducted last week on December 3.
“Do you know about the activities of the public“ Memorial ”?
I know pretty well – 5%
Heard something – 25%
Heard nothing – 70%
Clear? People who are worried about the persecution of the Memorial Human Rights Center make up no more than 5% of the adult population. We are quite a bit different from the statistical error. So we can be neglected. Which is what we observe.
To paraphrase Mandelstam’s suicidal verses, we can say:
We live without knowing the country at all.
She doesn’t seem to need us.
The constant mass departure of scientists, engineers, doctors from the country, which lasts for years, is a clear confirmation of this.
The number of scientists and highly qualified specialists leaving Russia has increased fivefold since 2012. This was reported by TASS in April 2021 with reference to the chief scientific secretary of the Russian Academy of Sciences Nikolai Dolgushkin. According to him, “the number of specialists traveling abroad annually since 2012 has increased from 14,000 to almost 70,000 at present.”