Rasputina, Tarasova, Kuklachev on the ban on Cheburashka in Latvia: “Let them sit in their viper”

Before we had time to move away from the news that the Latvian Puppet Theater banned the performance of the play “Crocodile Gena and Cheburashka”, as we were expected by another. The theater management decided to abandon other performances in Russian. Soon Thumbelina, Baby and Carlson, 38 Parrots will be removed from the repertoire of the Latvian Puppet Theater… According to the management, fairy-tale characters are involved in propaganda and cause irreparable harm to young spectators. Russian cultural figures reacted to this news with great surprise.

Masha Rasputina, singer:

– Cheburashka and Gena the crocodile were the favorite cartoons in the Soviet Union. They did not carry anything bad: in them, good triumphs over evil. Even the nasty long-nosed Shapoklyak at the end of the cartoon Cheburashka and Crocodile Gena were able to melt their hearts, like Gerda Kayu, and they all became friends.

– Why do you think such a performance was actually banned?

– They have always had a hatred for such a great power as the Soviet Union, and in general for everything Russian. But enemies, the 5th and 6th columns, infiltrated the power, which destroyed the Soviet Union from the inside, like a cancerous tumor. Party nomenklatura, secretaries of regional committees, city committees, their children – what did they do! We know everything now – everything is in open sources. From the inside, they decomposed the Soviet Union, then, according to the plans of the Anglo-Saxons, they staged a restructuring, which was a Trojan horse for the entire Soviet people. And there was no such great power. Now we are reaping the benefits.

Yuri Kuklachev, clown:

– This is agony: Latvians are against kindness, – says Yuri Dmitrievich. – Cheburashka – kind, good, sympathetic. They will be cast out to the last, until they get a hat. Therefore, I am not surprised at the ban on Cheburashka and Gena the crocodile. It’s a pity, of course. They need to be treated. It’s easy to ban – it’s hard to create something new. And what Uspensky came up with is brilliant! For all peoples and all mankind.

– What should the Russian-speaking residents of Latvia, who are the majority there, do?

– In Latvian speak and endure. Once you stay there – you have to endure this time. I think in 3-4 years everything will be fine. In general, everything will be different. Now the world order is changing.

Nikas Safronov, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation:

– The ban on Cheburashka and other performances in Russian is unprofessional and unethical. Many people live in Latvia for whom Russian is their native language. For many decades we lived together in one country, we were one Soviet people – we shared both joys and troubles together. Latvians went through a difficult war together with us, fighting side by side against fascism. Many older Latvians speak excellent Russian. I lived in Lithuania for many years and often came to Latvia, so I know this firsthand.

We understand that they are being influenced from outside, they are being forced on them that Russian culture should be abolished. For such an anti-Russian position they are given financial support. But in the end, these subsidies will run out, and Latvia, like other Baltic countries, will, like in Pushkin’s fairy tale, have nothing to lose. And then what? They will again ask for help from Russia – because we have always been there and helped our neighbors, and not only.

It would be extremely wise not to succumb to the general hysteria of our opponents. I don’t understand why this is happening in Latvia now. Latvians are a wonderful people with a rich history and wonderful culture, which was only enriched and developed even more when we lived together in one country. People say: “When the Lord wants to punish, he takes away the mind.” I believe that all this will end soon and we will become good neighbors again. Let’s all hope and pray for it.

Maria Kozhevnikova, actress:

– Human stupidity, unfortunately, is ineradicable. It’s hard to argue with stupid people: it’s like you’re talking to a wall. They only made themselves poorer by banning Cheburashka and Gena the crocodile. Our Soviet cartoons and films are kind and good. They instill in children the right attitude and thinking. This is very important in childhood. What is in Soviet cartoons is not in those aggressive cartoons that are now being created in the West. For the most part – 70-80 percent – this is consumer goods. And we had cartoons with a powerful deep inner meaning. Letts, I repeat, only made their children poorer.

Stupidity is not worth fighting for now. Honestly, I myself do not understand what is happening in the world. What propaganda is going on! It is said that children have no gender, that they are not born boys or girls. Arguing with nature is an immediate loss. Humanity is now walking not even on very thin ice, but like in spring, when it has almost melted. Another second and everything will fail. I watch with anxiety what is happening, it’s hard for me. Because I have three children myself.

Victoria Tarasova, actress:

– It doesn’t fit in your head, what prevented Cheburashka? – the actress is perplexed. – What can you talk about with people who demolish monuments, ban the Russian language? Personally, I will never accept Latvia again for their behavior towards us. They ban Cheburashka, and so be it. Let them ban everything Russian and sit in their viper, not even getting out of there. If it were my will, I would fundamentally ban them myself and Cheburashka, and the crocodile Gena, and in general everything connected with our country.