Meeting with Kiriyenko
First Deputy head of the presidential administration Sergei Kiriyenko met with artistic Directors of major theaters in Moscow and St. Petersburg, said one of the participants and was confirmed by a source in the Kremlin. Communication took place on Wednesday in the presidential administration, the meeting was attended by about ten people.
According to one participant, guests included artistic Director of the Moscow art theatre. Chekhov Oleg Tabakov, Director of the theatre “Satyricon” Konstantin Raikin, the Director of theatre “Lenkom” mark Zakharov, artistic Director of the Maly theatre Yuri Solomin, the artistic Director of State theatre of Nations Yevgeny Mironov, artistic Director of the Bolshoi drama theater. Tovstonogova in St.-Petersburg Andrey Moguchy, the artistic Director of Maly drama theatre in Saint Petersburg Director Lev Dodin, Director General of Bolshoi theatre Vladimir urin, the artistic Director of musical Theatre, the former Minister of culture Mikhail Shvydkoi.
According to a source in the Ministry of culture, the meeting was also attended by Minister Vladimir Medinsky.
The invitation from the Kremlin
A source in the Kremlin said the meeting with hydrocam really took place and was “in the format of previous meetings Kirienko — from political scientists, sociologists and other leaders of public opinion”: “the Objective of these meetings is to discuss topical issues on the agenda and to predict the challenges in the next year”.
Director of theatre “Satyricon” Konstantin Raikin confirmed that he was present at the meeting. Raikin said that she was devoted to the theme of censorship in art. The reason for the meeting, according to artistic Director “the Satyricon”, was his speech at the Congress of the Union of theatrical figures of Russia on 24 October. More detailed comments Raikin refused.
Artistic Director of theatre “Lenkom” mark Zakharov also confirmed that attended the meeting with the curator of the political block of the Kremlin. “Discussed the question previously raised Arkady Raikin (the topic of censorship),” — said Zakharov.
At the Congress of the Union of theatrical figures of Russia, the artistic Director of “Satirikon” big speech against censorship and the “fight for morals” on the part of public organizations. He called the attempts of public organizations to exert pressure on art and the theatre “completely lawless, extremist, arrogant”. He also protested that “the words of morality, Homeland, nation and patriotism are covered, as a rule, very low purpose.”
Words Raikin, in turn, angered the leader of the motorcycle club “Night wolves” Alexander Zaldostanov (Surgeon). He said that “under the guise of freedom, these Raikin want to turn the country into the gutter, where sewage would flow”. Press Secretary of Russian President Dmitry Peskov, in turn, said that censorship should not be confused with the state order on those or other products. He called Raikin talented and expressed the opinion that the Surgeon “the devil has beguiled”.
According to Zakharov, the participants came to the conclusion that “there must be some kind of signal.” “Maybe from the Kiriyenko or someone from the presidential administration, or from the top. The signal that is pursued by the law things to take on the additional duties of the censors while using hooligan methods to splash in the urine, placing his head under the entrance to the theater,” — said Zakharov.
Zakharov expects “a positive reaction”: “Kiriyenko is well with us, talked, spoke all.” He Kremlin official “told what he thinks about the situation and his new position.”
The invitation to the meeting, according to Zakharov, he entered him in the beginning of the week. The initiator of the event was the President’s administration.
Artistic Director of the Moscow art theatre. Chekhov Oleg Tabakov has also confirmed that there was a meeting: “Well, and how without me?” According to Tabakov, discussed the “work life”. From more detailed comments he refused.
Assistant of Lev Dodin Elena Alexandrova said that the artistic Director of the Maly drama theatre really “went to the meeting in Moscow,” but she doesn’t know with whom.
Assistant Yevgeny Mironov Faith Rodman confirmed that the artistic Director of the Theatre of Nations present at the meeting with Kiriyenko.
Mikhail Shvydkoi said that he could neither confirm nor deny the meeting. Contact Vladimir Urinam, Andrey Moguchy and Vladimir Solomin had failed.
Work with intellectuals
The Kremlin began to work more closely with the creative intelligentsia, as in 2011-2012, many natives of this environment actively participated in the protests, says the head of the Center for economic and political reform Nikolay Mironov.
“The theme of long overdue, especially after the scandal with Raikin and other stories. Perhaps in the presidential administration seeks to work with artists to understand their mood.”
The Kremlin, according to experts, it is necessary that this environment was not of opposition sentiment, as it is important in the context of future presidential elections.
“One of the creative intelligentsia will not go on contact, and the others will go. Someone just remains moderate,” the expert concludes.
“If the task Kiriyenko to change the image of power, he copes with it. But to assess any changes in the policy while not enough time has passed, — said the head of “Political expert group” Konstantin Kalachev. — The question of whether the state still as to influence of the ultra-patriots who are different controversial statements. Will the government work with the reactionaries, who take obscurantist position and chernozatonskii “.
According to Kalachev, a lot depends on whether Kiriyenko mandate from the President on changes in the sphere of interaction of authorities with representatives of the public: “the Question is, how wide a corridor of its capabilities and how it is authorized to determine a line state against the workers of culture given the fact that there is culture and many other interested in this area of persons.”
