About Valeria Novodvorskaya

Alexander Arkhangelsky, literary critic:

 Valery Novodvorskaya died, who lived her life, as she wanted, and not as prescribed. May the earth be in fluff.

Elena Chekalova, journalist:
I just read about the death of Valeria Novodvorskaya. I'm in shock, friends, and in sorrow. For all the oddity for many, Valery was a talented educated, very decent and fearless person. Absolute extraordinary, a titanic personality, of those units that are ready to live without sacrificing a drop of their beliefs. She always seemed unhealthy to me - such intellectuals of the 19th century were such, for whom personal was always less significant than the freedom of the homeland. Rather, this is the case: the freedom of the homeland, a fair world order - this is for people such as Valeria Novodvorskaya deeply personal. Remember her. She did a lot in order for each of us to learn to live freely. Unfortunately, few heard her.

Maria Slonim, journalist:
When in 1969 I heard that a certain Lera Novodvorskaya in the Palace of Congresses scattered some anti-Soviet leaflets, I took a breath. Since then, I was breathtaking from everything that she did, said, wrote Lera. Delight and admiration!
Today, too, took a breath. From grief. How sad.

Mikhail Epstein, philosopher: the first of our contemporaries to whom I would suggest erecting a monument - Valeria Ilyinichna Novodvorskaya. At the Lefortovo prison, where she sat, or at one of the psychiatric hospitals, where she was put for forced treatment. Where there are fearlessness, there is immortality. Eternal memory to her.

Evgeny Levkovich, journalist:
I had great happiness. I worked with Valeria Ilyinichnaya for one year. I saw her exactly once a week. She brought sweets and treated them, in particular, me. Sometimes I baked pies. I was doubly lucky that she treated me well, I don’t know why. She was such an anarchist-fascist shusher as I did not like since childhood. I also never agreed with her. Sometimes she is simple, what was there, annoyed. However, we got along. Once she invited me to join her "democratic union", but I, of course, refused. Then she invited me to marry her, I was not found to answer and we laughed. Fool. It was necessary to go out, immediately. Such a woman can no longer be found.

Almost everyone was daring over Valeria Ilyinichnaya - even many of her friends. "Demshiz" - this has begun with her, because it is the standard of this concept. I never laughed at her. I read one of her books, got acquainted with her biography, and I felt terribly ashamed. I realized that she was laughing at her, or not to love her, or fiercely hate her - there is a higher scoundrel. In 1969 (in the 69th, the same, completely Soviet year), she, a nineteen (!) Girl, in the Kremlin Palace of Congresses (!) Spread leaflets against the entry of troops into Czechoslovakia. After that, she spent a year in prison and two more years - in a terrible psychiatric clinic in Kazan, where her physical and mental health was completely undermined. However, she did not betray anyone. She didn’t give anyone away, although she, twenty -year -old, was tortured several times. She never betrayed anyone. Which of you, who called it "liberal", left and right -wing radicals, such combat and bold pumped guys, is capable of such courage? A few units. Basically, you give everyone to the right and left. You and one fallen hair from the head of Valeria Ilyinichna are not standing.

All in all. I could still write a lot, but why. What can I say. This huge loss and great grief. I'm crying. Goodbye, dear Valery Ilyinichna. I never shared your views, I did not share at all. But I want to live my life in such a way as to be at least any worthy of you. So that when we meet again, I would not be ashamed to say hello to you. Well, you also do not fail. You will have sweets and pies with you, right?

I love you. Very.

Goodbye.