"We will not go with a stick against the tank"

On the ring near the Kuibyshev market there is a polite person in military uniform, armor and mask. Katya stops the car. There, he says, yours is worth it. Go hug.

Near the building of the State Council, I still decide to talk with two polite.

“I’ll wait for you here,” says Katya, “otherwise I will still get on them, it will turn out to be impolite.”

“Green men” turn out to be heavy, elderly, battered people.

- Have you been sent from Moscow?

- No, we are local.

- So you ... crossed? - I do not have time to choose a more correct word.

The look of the elderly is heavier.

- We did not go anywhere. We were in the Crimea and stayed in the Crimea. I stood in this place for twenty -five years, I am standing. I served and will serve my homeland. Do not photograph us, please - in Ukraine we are now promised a term of 9 to 15 years.

“It’s a pity, you didn’t tell me that these are traitors,” Katya says, when we are already leaving the state council building, “I would throw a tomato at them.”

After graduating from school in Simferopol, Katya lived in Europe for several years - in England, France and Switzerland - but returned to the Crimea, help her mother engage in the tourism business.

Katin's husband Vitya refuses to meet in a crowded cafe: “You know, we have an unpopular point of view, so it will be uncomfortable for us if everything around will listen to her.”

The "Orange Revolution" made a huge impression on both at one time. “It was an event after which the world ceased to be the same. Rejoicing in the arrival of Yushchenko and the results of the “Orange Revolution”, we were here, in the Crimea, we were in a deep minority, ”says Katya. - Crimea, according to my impressions, always gravitated to Yanukovych. Moreover, the argument was one: “Yanukovych will make the Russian language a second state language”. ”

“This is despite the fact that in Crimea there are only two or three Ukrainian schools,” Vitya continues the thought, “several pieces were closed every year. They talked about oppression - and closed.

Katin father is a Ukrainian, mother came to Crimea from Moscow. “In my passport, I signed up with a Ukrainian, I thought it would be easier to live. In addition, I calculated mathematically that I have five eighth Ukrainian blood, which means it would be fair to enroll me in Ukrainians. ” Vitya ten years ago arrived in Crimea from Chernivtsi. "Judging by blood - my mother is Russian." Both identify themselves as citizens of Ukraine.

Neither Katya nor Vitya went to referee, considering him illegal.

- Crimea has always been a nursing home for former KGB officers, the military. Everyone went on a well -deserved pension in the Crimea. Their descendants are brought up in the appropriate style. They voted for Russia, ”says Vitya. - A separate item is Sevastopol. For twenty -three years they brought up this feeling: "Sevastopol is the city of Russian soldiers."

About the prospects for the development of Crimea after the referendum, Vitya says: "This is the end."

The best years in the life of Crimea both call the times of Yushchenko, 2004-2008. Quite bad-time after 2010, from the arrival of Yanukovych. “People were squeezed out of business. Small business was absorbed, there was an enlargement. Every year it got worse. ”

“But you,” I say, “against the accession of Crimea to Russia?”

“Well, of course,” says Vitya, “and what's good in Russia?”

- If we never knew what Russia is, and we would have told us: “Guys, we have a wonderful country here, we don’t want to?” “There would be one conversation,” Katya continues. -But I actually know, I go to Moscow every year to tourist exhibitions. I follow the news. And I understand that there is no less difficult to live there. Yes, and they don’t give words. That is, in Ukraine I will be poor and proud, and in Russia - poor and powerless. Logical?

“We still thought that Yanukovych is a dictator,” Vitya sighs, “we were very mistaken.”

“You have no idea how they sympathize with us in Ukraine,” says Katya. - Lviv was the first city to oppose the "language law." We spent the day of the Russian language. Showed sympathy and solidarity with us. And Crimea sincerely believed that this law could be adopted. People convinced themselves that it makes sense to join Russia, since these bastards would force them to speak Ukrainian. The people panicked when the information “tens of thousands of Bandera people went to kill Crimeans” through the Russian channels. In my opinion, the brilliant stuffing of Russian special services. Crimeans believe in Russian channels, and if you try to bring the argument against - you are Bandera.

We are hostages of the will of the elderly who honor Stalin.

“90 percent of people are watching Russian channels here,” continues Katya. - Crimea does not want to learn Ukrainian. Categorically. The Crimeans have the belief that Western Ukraine is trying to enroll the wages of the detonations to the rank of veterans, that is, those who shot the Soviet soldiers in the back. For example, there is a UPA monument in Lviv. We are not very versed in the subject, but we were driven into our heads that these are enemies. It is impossible to admit that these people fought for their independence against the USSR, just like Estonia and Baltic states. The resistance lasted until the 56th year: these people were referred to Norilsk, and they continued to raise uprisings and demand the independence of their country, Ukraine. The Soviet Union dealt with them with their methods: you cannot destroy the enemy - to defame it. Eastern Ukraine sacredly believes that the UPA is enemies; They will cut the Russian without blinking an eye. The same attitude in the Crimea and to the Maidan: terrible Bandera, terrible Codla. There were few people from the east on the Maidan, more from Western Ukraine and Kyiv. People who go out to fight for their rights. Free people. And we, Eastern Ukraine, are mentally close to Russia: we will sit in shit and be silent to the last, if only we are not touched.

“There is a paternalist society,” Vitya continues her thought, “this is Crimea and the East.” The principle of existence is "Old Man said." You objected, the dad hit the table with his fist, you began to obey. Why did they obey Yanukovych, hating him? Because they believe that he commands well.

“They went out to the Maidan because this damned power is sick,” says Katya, “all the people, including the East with Crimea.” On the Maidan there were ordinary people - for themselves, for their business, for the country and for all the people, eastern and western. In my opinion, if one is a small but proud country overthrows a dictator, the whole world considers it normal to help them later. Now Ukraine has the hope of choosing the best rulers. Which will take into account the previous experience. We had a very good chance. And Ukraine remains. If Russia now does not try to arrange something like that.

“And now we are the hostages of the will of the elderly who honor Stalin,” Vitya sighs.

“I didn’t give my Ukrainian passport,” says Vitya, “I can always quit everything and go to the continent.”

- Is this a decision?

- A probable opportunity.

“I personally lose a lot, throwing everything here,” says Katya, “my plan today is to hide.” I have a business here. If we can lead him, then we will have to live here in Russia. Sometimes my hands drop, I want to sell everything here and go to hell. But who will buy real estate from me now? There are no registers, do not carry out transactions. In addition, how much will this property cost - a penny?

“There is also an argument of Sevastopolites,” Vitya continues, “who have repeated all these twenty -three years:“ We live in Russia. ” So I will say now that I live in Ukraine. Tricolor is a temporary phenomenon. Today, Russia received its own, but no one guarantees that the opposite will not happen.

The holiday season begins in two months. “He will not begin,” says Vitya.

- 70 percent of our tourists were from Ukraine, 30 percent from Russia. Over the past ten years, Crimea has risen in price, but added very little in the service. Therefore, all these cheers-patriotic exclamations of Russians “We are going to our Crimea to rest” will quickly come to naught when they estimate how much it will cost and how little they will receive for their money. I do not know how much money you need to invest here in order to bring the old fund into working condition. And I do not know how many people here need to be shot from the service staff so that others work for conscience. And how, excuse me, get to us now? Either by an airplane that costs crazy money, or by a car through the isthmus on a ferry? By train, taking into account customs, it is not very pleasant to go: tourists will have to cross two boundaries of the “enemy” state at once. People will not want to suffer. They will go to Turkey for this money.

- I personally have very bad forecasts. But I'm not a seer. I can’t predict whether the patriotic euphoria really will force the Russians to step on their own comfort and come to the Crimea. I know for sure that they will force trade unionists who do not care where to go. But the trade union works directly with the health resort that he chose, they have a direct agreement, the travel agency will not receive anything.

- And the same grandmas from the private sector that fought for their pensions will suffer. The trade union will not send anyone to them. Previously, at least in the summer they had their own from Ukrainian tourists. And now this grandmother will receive a cuckoo with butter. And even that pension will not help her. Which actually has not yet been raised. Only issued in ruble equivalent, without three times, but counting at the rate of 3.2.

Numismatics - hobby and business Viti; He can no longer sell old coins abroad. “My clients live in Ukraine. Under Russian law, I have no right to send values. ”

“It bothers everything - whatever tourage,” Katya summarizes, “I’m used to drinking water, which is produced only in Ukraine.” That is, it does not matter, I will switch to another water. But it will be so with all the little joys of my life.

“I will probably go to receive a Russian passport,” says Katya, “and leave Ukrainian for Euroviz.” In my opinion, the sanctions of the European Union (Crimeans can receive Schengen visas only in Ukraine.- Ed. ) Use reasonably applied: for those who will be arrested immediately as soon as they set foot on the territory of Ukraine.

I recall the elderly military near the State Council: this is the possibility of a trip to Europe for them is now equal to imprisonment.

“So they need,” Katya says ruthlessly, “I'm sorry, but why should I regret them?” What did they do with my life like them? I am much more sorry for myself now.