January 01, 1990

Why I Will Demonstrate


Why I Will Demonstrate

 

In Russia we have one thing in common – if you have your own political views, regardless of whether you agree with the party in charge, you just sit in the  kitchen at home chatting about the situation with friends and relatives. Nothing more, just kitchen talks. You can be very angry, and sometimes, if there is alcohol, the conversation might end in a fight. But that’s it—your  anger never leaves your flat. Until recent events, I considered myself a rather politically indifferent person. Not exactly indifferent—I certainly have my own position—but  I never stood up for it publicly, and I never thought I would try to prove it.

But there have been situations in Russian history when long-suffering patience bursts like a bubble and these kitchen talks turn into real actions. In contrast to European countries, the Russian bubble gets much bigger before it bursts.  But for Russia, I think the bursting moment has come again after last Sunday’s Duma elections. Everyone knows about the widespread falsifications, yet there is not a word on television.  I have friends from Moscow State University who worked in a local polling station, and they were told by the head of the elections committee to disregard any violations. Not a single one of my friends voted for United Russia. No one has, really, so how could the party be declared the winner?

As for me, I never imagined that I would participate in a political protest.  I thought—and I still generally do think—that protest actions are the least effective way to express displeasure.  I thought that a protest can’t change anything.  People just gather together, print some posters, and shout some slogans.  But what if that is the only way to make your voice heard?  What else can you do, if your constitutional right to vote is disregarded and scorned, your vote not counted?

On December 5, the biggest opposition protest in years was held.  The media estimated that over 5000 people came out to express their resentment of falsified election results.   The participants were very diverse—politicians, musicians, university students, pensioners, and even schoolchildren.  All had been deceived by their own government.  I was there.  I also shouted and clapped.  I want those in the Kremlin to understand that there are people who are not scared by police lawlessness and impunity, who insist that their voices be heard and their opinions respected.  After the protest, there were confrontations with the police, and several hundred people were arrested.  Arrests of protesters are nothing new for Moscow; each month, opposition activists gather on Triumfalnaya Square to defend Article 31 of the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom to hold meetings and rallies.  And each month, those same opposition activists end up in jail.

It is not right.  It is not democratic. I cannot accept election results that do not actually depend on the elections themselves.  That is why I will join the tens of thousands of my fellow citizens—who are also dissatisfied, who also can no longer remain silent in the face of corruption—on December 10th, not far from the Kremlin.

 


 

 

The author, Solomon, is a 21-year-old student at Moscow University. He asked that we not use his last name.

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.
Murder at the Dacha

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.
Fish: A History of One Migration

Fish: A History of One Migration

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.
White Magic

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
93 Untranslatable Russian Words

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.
A Taste of Russia

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955