Power against experts

The authorities of the city of Yeisk in the Krasnodar Territory actually disrupted the holding of the international intellectual game tournament "What? Where? When?", Hiting the event to the event that its opposition views are the reason. Along with this, the local Department of Education created its own “ChGK” league, in whose games students are forced to participate in order.

For Alexander Korovayn, 32 years, of which he devoted more than 10 to intellectual games, first of all - the club "What? Where? When?" From his native Yeysk (Krasnodar Territory). At the end of last year, Korovaya first encountered the opposition of local authorities, who, after many years of unreleased cooperation, suddenly began to forbid him to conduct ChGK games in schools. In the spring of 2017, the cow was arrested for 10 days for organizing a rally of supporters of Alexei Navalny and dismissed from the gymnasium, where he taught history. In the summer of the same year, he became deputy head of the local branch of the Yabloko party, and in September he won the elections to the Council of Deputies of the Yeisk District. The other day, according to Alexander Korovayy, the authorities actually disrupted the international tournament in Yeysk “What? Where? When?”, Forcing local entrepreneurs to refuse him a premises for the game. In informal conversations, the cow was explained: it was decided to end the CHC club independent of the authorities in the city, because the games held by them "create a positive image of the opposition."

Problems with renting rooms for playing "What? Where? When?" They began at the cow back in November: he was consistently refused the rental of premises to the city house of officers and the Yeisk Fish -Industrial College, where the games of the club of experts have been held more than once without any problems. On January 21, in Yeysk, an international CGK tournament called the Azov Breeze was supposed to be held in Yeisk, but for it the premises managed to find the premises only at the last moment: a local cafe with which an agreement was reached in advance, at the last moment refused to hold the game. As a result, the tournament had to be arranged in the unheated hall of the local office of the Communist Party, and even without a few school teams: they withdrew from the competition due to threats from teachers and directors. One of the teams left the hall in the midst of the tournament, after its participants, students of the 11th grade, called from school and threatened to deprive gold medals.

The authorities of the Yeysk and the Yeisk district reject all the accusations against them and say that they did not interfere with the cow in holding the games, and also did not exert pressure on local businessmen so that they refuse Alexander leasing the premises. According to officials, the administration created its own club "What? Where? When?" And from now on will support games and tournaments arranged under his auspices. The cower claims that this was done specifically to delay the players at his club, and the Yusk administration employees do not have sufficient experience for holding the GGK games.

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The Korovaynoi, the head of the Yabloko faction in the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg, Boris Vishnevsky , sent an appeal to the prosecutor of the Krasnodar Territory demanding to understand the situation with the actual prohibition "What? Where? When?" In Yeysk. A flash mob began on the Internet in support of the Years club of experts.

Alexander Korovayany told Radio Liberty about his misadventures and the reasons why the Yuska authorities could take up the popular intellectual game.

- When and how is your passion for the game "What? Where? When?" Has it first crossed or became close to politics?

I began to prohibit me to hold tournaments in schools under the pretext of a terrorist threat

- This happened for the first time in September. Despite the fact that I have been in the Yabloko party for more than 6 years and I have been engaged in the club in parallel with this, this did not cross it directly. At the games we never had politics: I was engaged in political and social activities separately, but "what? Where? When?" - separately. They crossed in September when I became a deputy. It seems like my status has increased, but at the same time, the education department began to limit [games]. I always arranged the qualifying games at the beginning of the season in schools so that schoolchildren did not need to go somewhere, so that they participated in the competitions in their school, looked and, if they like it, participate in games. But they began to forbid me to hold tournaments in schools under the pretext of a terrorist threat, they say that strangers cannot come to school. My motivation was that I am not quite stranger, actually: I am a deputy, I did this for many years, you know me very well, I collaborated with you, informed about our tournaments. At first they did not want to agree with me, but then, through negotiations, he still convinced them that these games needed to be held. We agreed with me, and we spent them in a shortened manner, did not manage everywhere, but we conducted it. Then it was not completely clear whether this was connected with politics, or not. Subsequent events showed that it was still connected.

- What are these "subsequent events"? What happened to the game of the Azov Breeze International Tournament, which was supposed to take place in the Yeisk cafe Sicily January 21?

- To make it clear: at first they thwarted two games in November and in December. Then we were told that it was because of the policy that “you are criticizing the power, you will be in Yabloko, and not in“ United Russia ”. Politics is politics, but in order to pursue this game normally [January 21], I tried to write official letters for a long time with proposals for cooperation. I already agreed that if my candidacy as an organizer does not suit them, I would have attracted other people who do not have an“ apple ”. After my criticism, "you want to destroy everything, you do not give me the game" They played one game on a very low level, the questions were not quite those on the game "What?" Where? Когда?", не того уровня, игра была проведена в помещении, где плохая акустика, эхо, где вопросы ужасно слышно, набрали очень разных детей вместе, в одну кучу, с 5-го по 11-й класс. У меня они всегда в разных лигах играют, потому что пятиклассник и одиннадцатиклассник не могут одинаково отвечать на одинаковые вопросы, все-таки уровень знаний очень разный. Все это было сделано для галочки, для того чтобы сказать: "Мы не полностью We destroy, we just create our own instead of yours. "

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Then I wrote a letter where I pointed out the shortcomings, offered to correct them, offered cooperation, let there be a joint club with education management, organizers, if you want it to really develop. Let without a cow, but with people who know how to do it right. To which they answered me that they had "everything was fine" and they consider cooperation with us inappropriate. Then I warned that in this case I would, as before, arrange tournaments, and whoever wants to, will come to me, who does not want, he will not, this is the choice of each participant. But after this, a situation arose when I was torn off the first two games of the season, refusing at the last moment in the municipal premises, first consent, and then refusing to provide these premises at the last moment. I tried to rent premises on a commercial basis, agreed on everything, but at the last moment they called me back, specified that it was I, that I was "the person that they talked about," and also canceled. As a result, we already found a room at the last moment, but not quite suitable for this. It would be amazing if the whole world took part in the Azov Breeze International tournament, and Yeisk did not participate in his own tournament, international, synchronous. Since Yabloko has a very small office, we asked the Communists. They gave good, and we had to play the game in their room. It was struck by the schoolchildren forbidden to participate: at first they wrote reports that they wanted to come, that the team would be, and then - that they called from school and said that it was impossible to take part in this game in any case. Some teams refused to participate on the eve of the tournament.

One team left the tournament right during the game, because the class teacher called them

One of the 12 teams that came to the tournament left it right during the game, because the class teacher called them. They approached the organizers, apologized and said that they had just called the class teacher and threatened that they would have problems with receiving gold medals, to which they went enough time. They were threatened with these gold medals and other problems at school. When we started to leave the premises, we saw that there were two cars in which there were representatives of the education department, as well as other unknown people, they shot all schoolchildren on cameras, who, apparently, understand who was in the game, then to take some further actions.

- You spoke in one of the comments, what are you associated with the difficulties with holding the games "What? Where? When?" With the upcoming presidential elections. What is this connection?

To "not create a positive image of the opposition"

- At first, I was directly told by the head of the education department: the problem is due to the fact that "you write criticism of the current government on the Internet." And then there was a personal conversation with the representative of the administration, a high -ranking one who asked him not to call him. He said that there was a team from Krasnodar, from the Department of Internal Policy that the opposition did not participate in the organization of some positive events, especially with youth, to the presidential election, so that a positive image of the opposition would not be created.

- What is the average age of the players "what? Where? When?" Participating in your tournaments?

-Most of the participants in the largest league are 10-11th grade, 16-17 years old. There are those who are older, there are students, working youth, but there are not so many of them now, since we have a small city. We had several universities and branches of universities, and over the past few years they were completely closed as part of the education reform. We have the most talented go to other cities and remain to work there, almost no one is returning to Yeysk. If earlier, back in the 90s, in the early 2000s, some of the students entered our universities and the competitions continued here at the same time, now, unfortunately, this is not. Basically, our players are schoolchildren and a small number of working youth, a small number of students. For younger schoolchildren, from 5th to 7th grade, competitions are held, but their number is less.

-Do politics intersect and "what? Where? When?"? Is it possible to say, for example, that among the players, young people who are critical of power prevailing among the players? Are there any questions and topics related to the current political situation in Russia and in the world in tournaments?

Politics on "What? Where? When?" No

-No, there have never been questions about politics, there have never been any advertising at the games, even the mention of some political parties or candidates. Moreover, at all my games, at least the last two or three years, there are representatives of the district administration, the Department of Education, the Department of Youth Affairs, and they saw and heard that politicians on "what? Where? When?" No. People who participate in games adhere to completely different views: there are both supporters of the current government and opponents. I did not take measurements to find out the exact number of certain, but from individual people who personally expressed my opinion to me, I know that there are different people, of different views - supporters of the Communists, "Apple", "United Russia", LDPR. We have different populations and participants in different views. I do not impose my opinion, smart, competent people, learn logical thinking, they themselves can draw conclusions for themselves. Moreover, the principle of the International Association of Clubs "What? Where? When?" It consists in the fact that the game is out of politics. We adhered to this principle in Yeysk quite clearly.

-Can you agree with the assumption that the pressure on your club due to the rather young average age of its participants is caused not only with politics, but by the shares of Alexei Navalny, after which they started talking about young people, about the new generation, that the power of this generation is afraid of it, trying to somehow neutralize it? And despite the fact that Yabloko with Navalny is not the warmest relationship, you just “fell under the hand”? There is a task of neutralizing youth protest moods, and you involuntarily became its victim.

- Yes, I agree with that. I really think this is connected. There is an older generation that is constantly watching TV, they are washing their brains, they do not show an alternative look at the problems in the country and the world, almost all of them mainly support the current government. People of a younger age find different points of view, they use the Internet. This is in no way connected with the games "what? Where? When?", But the youth has the support of the current government still lower. I can’t say how much in a proportional ratio, but young people use social networks, use YouTube and other things, they are much more advanced than me. They have different views, they can watch some videos in support of the current government, some against the acting government, but at least they have a more extensive picture. Some of them, however, supports power, and some adheres to opposition views. A large number of youth on the shares of Alexei Navalny - I think this was the reason, the authorities were worried that when this generation, which now unquestioningly supports it, will leave, youth will come and make decisions about the fate of the country.

They probably worried about their millions

They probably were worried about their millions that power could change, so they could decide to take control of everything. Often some youth events held by the administration are held together with the "Young Guard of United Russia", and this does not bother anyone because they are in the right party. Of course, they were primarily worried about Navalny, but the Yabloko also does not share many of their views, so they do not want the youth to support anything else to create a positive image of the opposition in principle. Now attacks on Grudinin, for example, a candidate from the Communists, have begun, he is also watered everywhere. I don’t know whether it is good or bad, I am not familiar with him, but nevertheless, any candidate who is contrary to the current government is subjected to mud in our country. I think that the ban "What? Where? When?" Including consistent with the general trend.

-Did representatives of the authorities or those institutions that refused to the premises offer you to somehow resolve the situation with the game after the last days has done a lot of noise on the Internet?

- No, they didn’t offer anything. If before that I was actively offering, but they refused me, now they have chosen the position of waiting, waiting for what will happen, and are trying everywhere to announce that they created their league "what? Where? When?" The deputy of our district, Alexander Baturinets, found out that they accepted the document on the creation of this league retroactively, in early January. This order has a second serial number this year, the first number, she ( Tatyana Kudinova , head of the education department of the Yeisk district . - Note of the RS) took office. To create your own league "What? Where? When?" Apparently, it turned out to be the most urgent business, but we did not know about this before information appeared in the media about the strange situation with the "ChGK" in the Yeisk district. Prior to this, information that this league was being created has not yet been sent to schools.

- Do you think they will be able to lure the participants in the games? Does this mean that your club can simply cease to exist? Maybe the first time they did not succeed, but who knows how it will be later ... or after the election it all stalls?

At school, they were forced in orderly, and they went

- I think that all this will be done for a checkmark up to the election. They will not lure, but they can force them. There were a lot of newcomers at their first game, most of the club’s teams did not go to their game, only some teams went, who said that they were forced to go to school, that they did not want to, said that they were not interested in this specific game, nevertheless, they were forced to orderly in the order, and they went. Now, after more serious threats have gone from the administration, I don’t know how it will be. Some schoolchildren still write to me and ask when the next game, they write that they want to take part. Я думаю, что в любом случае, даже если останется 5 команд из 25, тех, кто не будет бояться угроз и будет желать участвовать, клуб все равно будет существовать. На протяжении этих 10 лет, пока я руковожу клубом, мы четыре раза становились чемпионами края, шесть раз призерами, ниже третьего места ни разу не опускались. Сильнейшие команды в любом случае останутся со мной, все они уже написали мне, что их не смогут заставить, что они не поддадутся давлению и будут приходить на соревнования, потому что знают, что здесь их научат хорошо. За 10 лет мы четыре раза участвовали в чемпионате России. Там в основном участвуют команды из городов-миллионников, крупных городов, а команд из небольших городов буквально несколько: Березняки, Снежинск, Ейск, может быть, еще кого-то забыл. Но количество малых городов, где на достаточно высоком уровне развито "Что? Где? Когда?", невелико, и мы среди них.

– Вы наверняка общаетесь в интернете с другими игроками и организаторами, есть ли у вас какая-то информация из других российских городов, крупных или не очень, о том, что клуб "Что? Где? Когда?" из-за невысокого среднего возраста своих участников или каких-то их политических предпочтений тоже подвергается давлению со стороны местных властей?

– Нет, мне за последние пару дней, когда пошла информация в СМИ о том, что происходит в Ейске, написали слова поддержки, возмущения, удивления из нескольких десятков клубов. На данный момент мне не известно ни одного случая, чтобы подобным образом запрещали турниры "Что? Где? Когда?" по каким-то политическим мотивам. Один из основных принципов "Что? Где? Когда?" и Международной ассоциации клубов, которая является обладателем права проведения игр "Что? Где? Когда?", – это быть вне политики. Участвуют абсолютно разные страны, например, Азербайджан и Армения. У них очень серьезные политические конфликты, но на "Что? Где? Когда?" это не должно отражаться. То же самое и во всех странах, которые принимают участие. В России я не слышал о таком случае, чтобы, кроме Ейска, где-то по политическим мотивам что-то запрещали.

Мне говорили: "Переходи в "Единую Россию", и все будет хорошо"

​ – Будете ли вы дальше пытаться сотрудничать или договариваться с местными властями, чтобы возобновить проведение своих игр в нормальном формате?

– Да, я, конечно, сделаю еще попытку. Я планирую написать в следующий раз официальное письмо, снова с предложением, и посмотрим, какая у них будет реакция. Я, конечно, предполагаю, что вряд ли она будет положительной, но если они будут готовы пойти навстречу, готовы снова сотрудничать для общего блага, для молодежи, тогда я готов на сотрудничество. Я не буду менять свои политические взгляды. Мне говорили на одной из встреч: "Переходи в "Единую Россию", и все будет хорошо", но я не готов поменять свои политические взгляды и свои принципы. При условии, что "Что? Где? Когда?" отделена от политики, в рамках "Что? Где? Когда?" я готов сотрудничать, если будет, конечно, такое желание со стороны администрации. Если нет, я буду проводить свои турниры. Будет, наверное, тяжело с поиском помещения, поскольку город у нас небольшой, и надавить на предпринимателя нашей администрации несложно – любыми налоговыми проверками, проверками пожарной безопасности. Мне уже говорили, что такое возможно. Тем не менее, все равно я думаю, что мы как-то выйдем из этой ситуации и клуб будет продолжать существовать.