Translated material
Project on the introduction of unanimity
Notes on the margins of Decree No. 549 of May 15, 2009
Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 549 of May 15, 2009 on the creation of the “Commission to counter attempts to falsify history to the detriment of the interests of Russia” (popularly known as the “Commission on Falsification”) evokes the impression of deja vu and reminds me of two documents: the treatise “Thoughts on the mayor unanimity, as well as about mayoral autocracy and so on,” written by N.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin and presented in “The History of One City” on behalf of Foolov’s mayor Vasilisk Wartkin, as well as “Project on the introduction of unanimity in Russia” by Kozma Prutkov, hero A.K. Tolstoy and the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers.
The very first paragraph of the Decree (“In order to ensure coordinated activities ... of government bodies ... aimed at counteracting ...”) finds parallels in the treatise of Vasilisk Wartkin: “It is necessary that unanimity reign among city governors. What are the rights and responsibilities of a mayor? “These rights are: for the evildoers to tremble, and for others to obey.”
Clause 4 of the Regulations on the Commission lists its main tasks. Well, how can we not remember Kozma Prutkov!
Regulations on the Commission
“Project on the introduction of unanimity”
| 4a - generalization and analysis of information | "Youth; Sciences; immaturity! Nonsense! Beliefs. Disrespect for the opinions of elders. Anarchy. "Own opinion! How can people who have not been trusted by their superiors have their own opinions?!” |
| 4b - development of a counteraction strategy | “Where can a subject understand all these reasons, reasons, considerations; different types, on the one hand, and discretion, on the other?! He will never understand them unless the government itself gives him beneficent instructions.” |
| 4c - preparation of proposals... for the implementation of measures aimed at countering | “The most appropriate means for this would be the establishment of such an official periodical publication that would give guiding views on each subject.” |
| 4d - ..coordination of the activities of... authorities... on issues of counteraction | “This government body, if supported by sufficient police and administrative assistance from the authorities, would be a necessary and reliable star, a beacon, a milestone for public opinion. The pernicious tendency of the human mind to discuss everything that happens ... would be curbed and directed to the exclusive service of the indicated purposes and types. One dominant opinion would be established on all events and issues.” |
| 4d - development of recommendations for an adequate response... and neutralization... of the consequences | “One might even counteract the developing tendency to raise “questions” on matters of public and state life; for what do they lead to? A true patriot must be an enemy of all so-called “issues”!... Even ill-intentioned people, if they dared to sometimes disagree with the said “prevailing” opinion, would naturally be careful not to contradict it, so as not to fall under suspicion and punishment.” |
Clause 5 of the Regulations on the Commission lists its rights. And again Wartkin’s treatise comes to mind.
“Thoughts on mayoral unanimity”
| 5a - request and receive, in the prescribed manner, the necessary materials from federal government bodies, government bodies of constituent entities of the Russian Federation and organizations | “Now let’s imagine what could happen if... there is harmful city-government overthinking? But here's what: in one city the mayor will be content with prudent orders, but in another, neighboring city, another mayor, under the same circumstances, will already fire. And since we hear everything, such a lack of unanimity can instill reasonable bewilderment and even multi-mindedness in the inhabitants themselves.” |
| 5b - create working groups on issues within the competence of the Commission, from among representatives of government bodies, organizations, scientists and specialists | “The mayor is obliged to instill science. This is true. But even this time it is necessary to give yourself an account: what sciences? Sciences are different; some talk about fertilizing fields, about building human and animal dwellings, about military valor and invincible firmness - these are useful; others, on the contrary, talk about the harmful pharmacological and Jacobin free-thinking, about some concepts and rights that are supposedly natural to man, and even relate to the structure of the world - these are harmful.” |
| 5c - invite representatives of federal government bodies, government bodies of constituent entities of the Russian Federation and organizations to their meetings. | “Establish a special educational institute for city governors. Mayors, as those especially doomed, must receive a special education... Issue appropriate guidelines... Organize secret mayoral congresses in provincial cities from time to time. At these congresses, keep them occupied by reading the mayor’s manuals and refreshing their memory of the mayor’s sciences.” |
God forbid, I do not at all assume that the officials who prepared Decree No. 549 and the Regulations on the Commission for the President’s signature were guided by the immortal creations of Saltykov-Shchedrin and Alexei Tolstoy and the Zhemchuzhnikov brothers. However, parallels emerge.
I just read in Novaya Gazeta (No. 58 of June 3, 2009) an article by O. Khlebnikov “Who wants to shoot Viktor Astafiev.” It turns out that the deputy chairman of the Chelyabinsk regional organization of veterans of war, labor, the Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies, Alexander Degtyar, is outraged by the publication of letters from the writer Viktor Astafiev, in particular such phrases as: “He (Zhukov) and Comrade Stalin burned the Russian people in the fire of war” and “ It was not you, not me and not the army that defeated fascism. And our people are long-suffering. It was in his blood that they drowned fascism and showered the enemy with corpses.” A. Degtyar’s reaction: “This is all a lie and not true!” And he demanded severe punishment, “up to and including execution,” for those who published Astafiev’s letters. Again the lines from Vasilisk Wartkin’s treatise come to mind: “A thief may be a villain, but this is a villain, so to speak, of third rank; A murderer is called a villain, but this is only a villain of the second degree; finally, a freethinker can be a villain - this is already a real villain, and, moreover, inveterate and unrepentant.”
PS If an Open Letter to the President of the Russian Federation, similar to the letter drawn up by L.S. Klein, were sent, my signature would certainly be under it. However, there is one thing I cannot agree with Lev Samoilovich - the legality of creating “an expert commission under the president to evaluate the facts and methods of the professional level of work of historians (as well as any other scientists).” The professional level of scientists’ work can only be assessed by scientists themselves. For this purpose, there are scientific councils in academic institutions, dissertation councils, the Higher Attestation Commission of the Russian Federation, and finally. The majority of commissions under administrative authorities consist of professional managers. Judging by its composition, the “Commission for Combating Attempts at Fraud.” is one of these entities. By the way, Saltykov-Shchedrin gives a very accurate description of the Foolovites’ attitude to history: “Did they have a history, were there moments in this history when they had the opportunity to show their independence? — they didn’t remember anything. They only remembered that they had Urus-Kugush-Kildibaevs, Negodyaevs, and Wartkins.”
S.V. Beletsky,
doc. ist. n, professor (St. Petersburg)