Crossing the Holy Christopher

Still, history is characteristic of irony. In historiography, the issue of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Russian and Zemoitsky, which covered in the XIV - XV centuries, has long been undergoing in historiography. The territory from Vyazma to Brest and from the Baltic to the Black Sea, as about the "alternative" Rus' - Rus', alternative Muscovy, which, starting from the time of Vasily of the Dark, has more and more acquired the character of a despotic service state.

Two days, March 9 and 10, Vilnius received the first forum of free Russia. Russia, alternative to the lead Putin regime, Russia, who has come here almost from all over the world - from Siberia to America. Initiated by G. Kasparov Forum by our good habit, immediately overgrown with comments about Pasternaká, which I have not read, but I will say. Unfortunately, our most “independent” media also decided to be pleased with rumors, instead of seeing everything with their own eyes. In contrast, I note in brackets, from the official propaganda channels, whose representatives, however, behaved expectedly indecent and unprofessional (there was a pleasant surprise of the Lithuanian police, deporting journalists-in-Statsk for the totality of violations of formal rules of conduct and introduced them into the list of undesirable people due to the threat of national security of Lithuania). But there were no Russian "independent" media. Therefore, so many different “opinions” have developed - according to rumors, it easily develops.

But, in fact, what is it about? Not everyone arrived? Thus, almost everyone was invited (from the famous persons, as far as I know, they were not invited only by Alexei Navalny - and then because he is still not attendant), and you can make claims to anyone, but not to the organizers. I'm afraid first of all to myself. Not the same agenda program? Everyone who was interested, participated (or could participate) in its formation: the organizers were quite open and loyal. Suffice it to say that right on the forum was born and an unplanned panel was successfully held in a pre -plan, at which regional problems were discussed. Didn't you sit down? Well, those who arrived sat down, and as they considered it convenient, useful, reasonable.

And many people came: more than 150 people took part in the forum. From Moscow and St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Rostov, Omsk and Pskov (if anyone did not mention, do not blame me: this is not a report, but geography is already quite indicative) from the Russian side. And from Germany, the Baltic states, the Britain, the United States, Slovakia, the Czech Republic (again the list is not full) from the Russian diaspora - we have not seen such representation for a long time, if we saw together at all. And here it was very visible, almost tactfully tactfully, what a huge part of the free Russia of the fascist state managed to squeeze out its borders. Many - in fact without the right to return, while the current government remains in Moscow. With their participation in the forum, these people, by the way, are still by most Russian citizens, returned to a state of confrontation between the regime, to an active action. It is no coincidence that the issues of coordination of the diaspora within themselves and with those who remain at their homeland took such a considerable place on the forum. And besides, European diplomats, politicians and political scientists took part in the forum - their view from the outside was also very interesting, and interest was more than indicative.

Was the forum successful? We can say: "No, of course - the regime did not collapse, did not flinch and did not give a petition for surrender!" And the step-by-the-way program for achieving a bright tomorrow forum also did not show the world. The deadlines were not indicated, it was not revealed when the desired hour “x” will come? Yes, they weren't. Just because Russia came up - and a lot and in detail was said - to the point of bifurcation, when any forecasts are fortune -telling on coffee grounds. Yes, the deadlines are unknown, but, according to the fair remark of G. Kasparov, not only to the forum participants, but also the authorities too. The forum did not give an answer to the sacramental question "who instead of Putin"? But he just gave it, reformatting the question in the incompetitionly more meaningful: “What instead of Putin?”, And greatly advanced along the path of understanding this “what”.

Was the forum interesting? Yes, of course. Not everything was equally interesting, of course. If only because some performances on our difficult-to-ruble habit were not so much problematic as “reporting-re-artificial”, if anyone remembers what this means. But even among such performances there were many, at least, extremely informative. Just because the level of competence of the speakers was already raised high. Opening a human rights, that is, essentially a “defensive” section, discussions step by step more and more acquired a constructive and offensive in nature. Because the audience to the answer to the question "What to do?" It was more interesting, more important, more relevant, the answer to the question "Who is to blame?" Because the forum gathered, to say, far from the last specialists, opposition politicians and activists, human rights activists and journalists who had something to discuss in the framework of direct and, sometimes hard public discussions. Two almost the most interesting discussion panels “Russia after Putin” and “Foreign policy of Putin Russia in the context of international security” had first -class speakers and no less wonderful moderators. But if Vitautas Brievs, who was discussing international issues, was lucky: all participants were accurately accurately in the declared topic (I can’t help but note the particularly ruthless performance by L. Shevtsova, who did not leave anyone indifferent and forced to almost justify the completely unsubstracted in the unexplored position of the European political scientist A. Umland), even such an experimental person) The host, like K. von Eggert, failed to squeeze out of his speakers an answer to the stated question about the likely scenarios of the development of the situation. About what could be later, after the fall of the current regime, about what needs to be done so that this “what” does not turn into the next reincarnation of the Soviet matrix, or even a direct half-way, has been expressed many sensible and sharp judgments, since the composition of the panel was according to the highest category, but about the scenarios ... However, they were understood in this section, and in this section were G. Kasparov, E. Chichvarkin, I. Ponomarev and A. Koch, it is quite possible: at the bifurcation point, any, the most reasoned forecasts do not have the ability to not come true - the significance of random events and their clutches are too high at this point.

Of course, the question of the upcoming elections in the State Duma and the opposition strategy was not bypassed. The whole range of positions was represented and all arguments were laid out on the table. And although, it seems, everyone remained with their opinion, the arguments of the opponents were heard, and were not passed by the ears, and the answers of the parties were quite informative. Agree, it is already a rarity in the current times!

Once again and again: people gathered at the forum with a noticeable various views, who, despite all the political differences, managed to clearly identify the zones of consensus, the zones of disagreement and, which seems to be the most important, the problems, to the understanding of which the approaches are still groped for.

Here for the current Russian authorities, the forum has two news. Good - power may not be very afraid of the opposition, the opposition has no strength to influence it, and even more so to blame it. No and is not expected. And yes - not a single division is even hidden in the opposition abroad, well, just like a Vatican! But the second news for the authorities is much less pleasant: the power itself has launched and continuously pushes the process of irreversible changes that are inevitably lead and will inevitably lead it to collapse. Unfortunately, it is very likely that together with the whole country. Until the threat of her territorial collapse. And this topic was first sounded so clearly, although, I must admit, no one dared to delve into it - scary.

And the main thing is the “white spot” - and this is no longer the problem (the current beneficiaries at this moment will not be up to it) - this is the problem of the opposition: how to cross to the other side? But the presence of this “white spot” appeared, as a result, quite clearly, and here, I must admit, the forum was a kind of laboratory, and discussions - a kind of “developer”, which allowed to endure and formulate these problems and questions, thereby putting on the agenda to comprehend the transition period between the twilight of the real and bowed bright tomorrow. This is a very sore and difficult question, and it was previously shyly silent - there is no perfectly clean and crystal democratic decisions here: the state’s disease, and most importantly, the social organism came too deeply. And before declaring the most honest elections in the world, you will still have to rake the Avgian stables, disassemble the rubble that will go to Russia tomorrow from the current Russia. Without a democratically obtained mandate and probably, imposing the necessary, but painful (or vice versa: painful, but absolutely necessary for survival) reform and transformation. What will need to be done, how to do it, in what terms and on what grounds? On the forum, this painful and multifaceted question was finally intelligently articulated. Not decided and even practically not discussed - apparently, most of the participants were not yet ready to discuss it objectively, but it was formulated and it was outlined. Not so little.

Although, I must admit, and not so much, especially if we consider that no one can guarantee that the answers will not be required tomorrow.

Alas, not yet ready. So the forum did not at all claim to be the "Congress of the Winners." His task was much more mundane - to try to gather, to bring together the opposition intra -Russian with those who are forced to be beyond the borders of the ugly fatherland, for the sake of joint actions. And here the forum gave some hope that if a constant Online site for discussions and discussions earned on its basis, if, based on the results of in-depth discussion, it will be possible to conduct the already declared next forum in September, then it will turn into a large and important story from an outstanding event.

Which can deploy the course of the history of Russia. Because it's time.

PS The day of departure fell on the holiday - Lithuanian Independence Day. All the streets of Vilnius were hung with national flags and flags of the city with the coat of arms in the middle: St. Christopher carrying on the shoulders of the baby Christ across the river.

Crossing. Vilnius and Lithuania St. Christopher helped to cross. We will have to do it ourselves.



Photo report by Anton Litvin