Cultural without revolution

In the State Duma on Wednesday, Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova made a report. All factions assessed the work of her ministry positively, and the deputies criticized mainly artists who opposed the special military operation (SVO). In addition, they were concerned about supporting culture in new regions and finding producers for talent at the front.

One of the main topics of Olga Lyubimova’s speech at the government hour in the Duma was the activities of the Ministry of Culture in the new territories. There, according to her, cinema halls are already operating, “the repertoire of which does not differ from Moscow,” and residents are looking forward to the digitized classics of Russian cinema. “Cultural figures who work in the country are rushing to new regions to speak to residents and fighters,” and there are “tens of thousands” of these figures, the minister assured.

The head of the committee on culture, Elena Yampolskaya (United Russia), also said that supporting culture in new regions is “an absolute priority for the committee’s work.” She further wondered if “our current culture can be fully relied upon and entrusted to work with the human soul.” First of all, the deputy said, it is necessary to cultivate and support talents who can “translate the meanings and values ​​that are important for us at a high artistic level.”

Vladimir Sipyagin (LDPR), who asked about the break in cooperation with European countries in the field of culture, was reassured by Olga Lyubimova with the story that a citizen of Great Britain became the laureate of the Rachmaninov Competition held this year in Moscow, and the French were the judges. And in general, according to her, “young performers from all over the world are eager to perform at our venues.”

Anton Tkachev (“New People”) urged not to follow the example of Ukraine, which bans Russian artists. Ms. Lyubimova noted that now the most important thing is not to offend anyone from the stage. “Everything that concerns some individual bans, we individually discuss in each case what kind of event can be held in philharmonics, conservatories, after all, these are academic venues. And now it is very important for us to support people, and not to inflate additional conflicts, ”she explained.

Here the speaker Vyacheslav Volodin entered the discussion with his own thoughts on this matter: “If you work in the theater, if you create films, think about the citizens of your country.” According to him, there should not be such a situation when “for budgetary money they destroy the state, insult those who are now dying for the safety of our citizens.” “You must understand this too. This is the position of Parliament. And here proceed from it and make a decision,” he severely punished the minister.

Vice speaker Boris Chernyshov (LDPR) asked Olga Lyubimova why Batman is known to the whole world, and “the Russian hero remains outside the brackets.” To this, the minister replied with pleasure that everyone knows “Masha and the Bear” too: “You know how delighted Masha is in a headscarf and in a long dress … Every Italian dad is waiting for Masha and the Bear to appear together look”.

Vice Speaker Anna Kuznetsova (ER) considered it necessary to remind that “today we have a special group of creative talented people – these are those who are fighting today.” And she lamented that these “outstanding personalities” do not have producers. Speaker Volodin suggested thinking about how to support them.

All the deputies who spoke from the factions positively assessed the work of the ministry and expressed the opinion that it works “much better”.

Sergei Shargunov (KPRF), in particular, noted the activation of the cultural potential of the regions. Vladimir Sipyagin proposed to develop legislative mechanisms to “stop the activities of artists” who oppose the SVO, and at the same time the demonstration of foreign films that “speak negatively about our country.” Actor Dmitry Pevtsov (“New People”) called cultural figures who left the country “bugs” who “do not live in a crushed position, but smell loudly.” In addition, in his opinion, everything that happens “at the theaters” is scary, and television is “forgotten by God.” However, the deputy called the special operation sacred and said that he believes in victory. “Amen, comrades,” he concluded his speech.

Alexander Sholokhov (ER) came next to the podium, allowing himself to “paraphrase a little” his grandfather, the writer Mikhail Sholokhov: “He once said that a citizen of Russia, wherever he speaks, should act as a patriot of Russia.” The deputies responded with applause.

Maria Makutina