Thousands of Russians protest against the exclusion of independent candidates from the elections for the Moscow city Parliament. The publisher Irina Prochorowa is happy, on the Demos, many young people found.
DW: The summer of 2019 was cold. How it will go down in the history of Russia?
Irina Prochorowa: He was cold, just the temperature here. The political climate was more subtropical, very hot. This amazing summer has once again shown everyone how unpredictable our country is. No one could have guessed that the election of the Mosgorduma (of the Moscow city Parliament next weekend, Anm. d. Red.), otherwise be largely ignored, the most important political event. I am quite sure that this is an interesting turn of events in the public life.
According to the poll workers organization “white counter”, and half of the participants of the protest demo on 10. August younger than 33. Who are you?
I regularly go to all the protests since 1991, and am following with great interest how the participants change. In 1991, young people demonstrated in front of the White house (the seat of the Russian government, Anm. d. Red.). Also I was able to appreciate at the time, as a young. Nevertheless, all social strata and all age groups were represented there. The change but. In the case of the protests on Bolotnaya square (in Moscow in the years 2011-2013, Anm. d. Red.) you saw more of the youth on the streets. And now, one has the impression that most of the participants are young, in spite of some “veterans” in the middle. I think that’s right, because this is a generation change. And I think it is very good that young people are politically active. Unlike my Generation, which wanted to a Depoliticization – tired of the Soviet ideology. Maybe that was our mistake at the time. But now, I see not only a certain Revolution of Dignity, but also a Revolution of the Right. For the first Time, respect for the Constitution is demanded, the of your guaranteed rights and obligations.
The head of the Central electoral Commission, Ella Pamfilova called these young people in a DW Interview, “Putin’s Chicks”. Others speak of “Nawalnjata”, so the “children of Navalny’s campaign”. And You?
I think both of the names wrong. These are young people who have become in a post-Soviet country. Which have not undergone any systematic humiliation, the had to learn all Soviet citizens, not a hard grid, no System is known, the squeezed out any individuality among. The young people of today have grown up in a freer society, you will have access to more information and the driving force now.
The renowned publisher Irina Prochorowa is in Russia for her critical spirit
You spoke at the beginning of a turnaround. This year there were a lot of protests not only in Moscow: against the pension reform anywhere in the country, against the planned waste landfill in the North, against the plans of the Russian Orthodox Church in Yekaterinburg, and, finally, against the from the point of view of the Opposition, unfair elections here in Moscow – protests, which in the end generally opposed to the policy of the rulers were directed. What’s happening now? What is this turning you speak of is?
We had very many illusions in the 90s. Many politically active people have achieved important goals in the post-Soviet period. Nevertheless, the type of the Soviet people has its limits, imposed on him by his then environment. I think now is the resources of such a Soviet are exhausted, people finally. We are witnessing the appearance of some of the other younger generations, which determine the political Agenda in the country. Protests are something completely Normal. A normal life. A normal, healthy political activity, which helps the authorities, public opinion in the country on the best track and to Orient quickly to change laws or abolish. In the same way as the freedom of expression. It is even more useful for the rulers than for the company itself, because it helps you to understand free of charge the whole spectrum of dissatisfaction in the country. Once the freedom is gone, is a country to be a mystery for yourself. The rulers no longer make a cruel mistake, because you can feel the mood in the country and the state of society is not more understanding.
The current “Explosion” in connection with the elections to the Mosgorduma is a classic example. Those in power have not understood that times have changed. That there are new politicians in a peaceful way in the parliaments for fairer laws want to fight. And that we must sooner or later integrate such people. Instead, we see a classic Soviet solution to the problem: do not allow, chase, etc., And so led a completely innocent Situation to an Explosion of indignation.