"Clouds are floating in Abakan"

Since April 2022, journalist Mikhail Afanasyev has been in prison. Today, the political prisoner was given 5.5 years in colony

On September 7, the Abakan City Court announced the verdict to the journalist Mikhail Afanasyev: five and a half years of the colony of general regime (the prosecutor asked for six) and the two -year -old (the prosecutor ordered for a year more) a ban on the profession. Afanasyev was found guilty of spreading fakes about the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, namely, in the publication of April 4, 2022, how and why 11 fighters of the Khakass riot police refused to participate in his. Afanasyev is 47 years old, he has five children, the youngest for four years. In the conclusion, the journalist from April 2022, and the period left in the pre-trial detention center will take off with a coefficient of 1.5.

The good news is that the word still means something more sharply sharpening, if so much is given for it-more than for a knife, that the strongest muscle of a person (especially some) is still a tongue, and when the word falls on paper, it becomes stronger than the diamond.

And both our shortcomings - often the continuation of our advantages, and here is bad news (however, what kind of news is) - the continuation of the good: handcuffs, prison, balance, school for any words - this is clear asymmetry, disproportionality. Especially if words are a profession.

Excessive cruelty has been manifested over the last Russian years for the first time and hardly for the last time, and if repressive inclinations like this, with all the obviously and already so everyday, routinely get out of control of the mind that can wait for journalism in the Russian regions? She is still alive, no matter how anyone bury her. Let it in single copies, let it not be in demand by the masses, but - alive.

And the most lousy in a particular sentence to Afanasyev (although, of course, they could give both 8, 9, and 9.5 years, he understands this) is a subjective combination of circumstances, the choice of the moment: for him, the contrast, an antithesis with what was happening to prison. On this difference, 5 years - like 50, because only shortly before the arrest in Michael’s life it all began to improve - now not about the professional side, but about the household, purely human, material, not ideological. Own apartment, a car that the car, getting rid of previous attachments, a way out of a circular run, intelligible prospects, intentions are embodied.

But this is not the main thing, this is an application to the fact that Mikhail met Elena, and they had love. The system -forming event occurred, life was structured and went again ...

These personnel randomly removed from the side: the court once again extends to Mikhail the content in custody, and Elena eats five minutes from work, frantically drives by car and manages to see how the convoy leads Misha from the semi -basement to the second floor. And he sees her. And she rushes across, at her husband, and manages to kiss him, no, rather smack it - the escort to whom the defendant is fastened with handcuffs, does not even slow down, grunting that now they will “remove everyone” from here. This is the scene that was not included in the film "Star of captivating happiness". But there, the officers, the elite, went on the palace coup there, challenged the imperial authorities, took the troops to the square, but here what?

If Michael had been imprisoned before - before this love, before the birth of their in common with Elena, a son, to a life that finally entered the beautiful, the best shores, it would be tolerated, it would be easier. Misha, as if specially raised all higher so that the flight down really succeeded. Although, of course, for us, from the side, this is not down, this is a continuation of the Mishin flight. Heroic and unhappy life.

Predetermination? He spoke about this in the last word, addressing the children: there is such a word - “it is necessary”. Yes. And there is another word "fate".

“The journalist’s nervous system is moving against the current” - this is Marquez about nature, against which you can’t have, and it is about self -taught such as Afanasyev who in love with this “best profession in the world” who have found in it almost everything that justifies this life, human vale.

A month ago, Mikhail was first allowed to make several calls. And he called me. The background of the clanging doors, barking voices; I tried to encourage him in a bite, saying that where he was now, for him the safest place, that he would still sit with a month or two later, and, oddly enough, Mikhail agreed, telling about the Abakan musician-his comrade, mobilized and returned to the wounded. "It’s not for him to be in a soldier ... What, would I be silent?" The conversation ended, and then a letter came with details.

QUOTE

From a letter from Mikhail Afanasyev

“In the parental house where I grew up, I have a neighbor, a guy twelve younger than me, Ivan. I remember him from birth, how they wore a baby. His father, a musician known in Abakan, is a very bright person. And mom-as if emerging from somewhere in the 60s, a silent librarian. Vanya is not a timid guy, but in his father the soul did not dull, more and more at home, with him. He also became a musician, but went on - he wrote music, words, sang himself. Father died, and they remained alone with his mother.

Ivan is very kind, not indifferent, bright guy. A couple of years ago I read about our attempts on Minino , called me, began help to offer. I have to him: "Listen, could you write music to our short film about disaster?" He already caught fire. In general, I wanted only our shortcomings to have only all our frames, music, documents, we have obtained. It seems to me that so we could convey the atmosphere of all our research, the desire to return the names of the dead children.

Remember, in January 2022 I came to Krasnoyarsk, we shot a churchyard and a disaster site from the quadrocopter? They had to meet with Vanya, watch the frames and decide where and which music is better to put in the first series. It seemed to me that it was more tragic, but he believed that there should be different music along the way. And philosophical and alarming, and as if we were asking for forgiveness. In a word, he seriously approached. But they did not have time, all this terrible began. I got into these walls, and Vanya wrote here. Then he was mobilized, but he got to a safe plot, and everything was more or less quiet. He called Lena periodically so that she handed me hello from him. And our mothers gathered with us every day with him and together read a prayer for us as their children. And Nastya V. with them, but she is at home. You have to remember her, she went with us to all the mini expeditions.

Then I’m calling my mother, he says: Vanya arrived. With two wounds. She goes to make his dressings, he says that one wound dragged on, but the second will not heal without professional help. He says Vanya lies and is just silent. Mom, when the first time came, says, just fell on his chest and sobbed until she was growing up. And he still calms her: they say, don’t worry, Aunt Lena, everything will be fine. And right away: “How is Misha? Tell him hello ... ”There are no words, but, you can say, lucky, at least alive. I see him so, would definitely not cope and ran with a poster somewhere to the square. And to hell with all fears and anxiety.

Such a guy ... I remember how I watched in the evenings after him from the balcony. He will come from work and sits in a car, listens to music, sings, gestures. I would not leave him now, I would make me think for days what kind of music he will write about Minino for Minino.

The guy lies, but I can neither write about him, nor intercede, nor support. Faily invented. "

Then, on the last word of Michael, his mother confirmed this story in the corridor of the court. Ivan was mobilized last fall. The wound on the left hand is dragged on, on the right - everything is difficult, obviously, the nerves are covered; Ivan is treated on an outpatient basis, goes to dressings, she helps him on weekends. In August, he was supposed to return to the Crimea to continue the service, but what kind of soldier is he now? It is still unknown what the failure threatens for him. Of the last news from Elena Mikhailovna: “We are very worried, but we hold on. I am worried about Misha very and for children. Vanya ( Middle Son of Mikhail. - A.T. ) very sensitive, often cries, misses Misha, but always hides tears. Misha’s eldest son arrived, everything will come for the verdict. ”

Sons is brought up by the attitude of the fathers to their business, a night strip of light from under the door of the father’s office. Mishina children see their father in handcuffs, in a cage, they see how they accuse him and judge.

This is for them - excerpts from only two letters. The first was sent to their father to prison from the constant representative office of France in the OSCE :

• “I write to you that you know that they don’t forget about you, they remember you. People around the world look at Russia, carefully monitor events and worry about all of you. ”

The second was sent to Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, it is from Aidan White , the president and founder of the ethical journalism network, the former Secretary General of the International Federation of Journalists:

• “[...] The world famous journalist Mikhail Afanasyev (laureate of the Russian Journalists Prize for Higher Professionalism, twice laureate of the prize Andrei Sakharov for journalistic labor and laureate of the Swedish club of publicists) is currently under trial in Russia. [...] Mr. President, I ask you to personally study the situation with Mikhail Afanasyev, since we believe that our colleague is subjected to judicial persecution simply for fulfilling his professional duties. [...] Mr. President, I beg you to take proper measures to protect freedom of speech in Russia. Last year, I opposed the veto European officials for broadcasting RT and Sputnik in the EU territories. Today I can only repeat what he said then: “The fight against propaganda can only be carried out by developing quality of the media and educational work, and not by taking repressive measures and laws against fakes. The provision of counterarguments and the conviction of the public remain the best weapon. ”

Afanasyev did not surrender his sources-riot police from participating in his-, despite all the issues of the judge. Profession standards are observed. But is Afanasyev right, stood up for the fighters (who are no longer fighters) and trusting them completely?

For me, so wrong - and the point is not that these are riot police. That they are from the great formation that became famous in the 90s in battles with gangs, and then switched to battles with unarmed girls, elderly, children. The fact is that adult capable men, afraid with an open person to oppose injustice, are not worthy of not only protection, but a good word addressed to them. I can empathize with them, and I will be (although it is unlikely, but it does not depend on the mind), to take risks, protecting it, but for what? Who will be Proz from this? However, I think this so (and said it to Mikhail), Afanasyev thinks differently, he is all brothers and sisters.

Vasin’s lawyer once ended up in the corridors of the court at the same time with these dismissed riot police, who achieved recovery in the service. And he approached them, introduced himself. Not everyone was able to look into his eyes. And the former riot police did not tell him anything. There was nothing to say. Misha confirmed that there were those who met him in a string of witnesses to the court that denied contacts with him. One got into his car at the intersection, two were waiting where they spoke before - one of their three places where there were no cameras, no street lighting, no random passers -by.

I turned out to be right then, in those days the beginning of it began, when at the same time I had already pronounced Misha everything that I thought about his intention to again interfere with the Rosgardists, but what difference does it make that I feel and how difficult it is for me. The point is in Afanasyev. And he understood what he was going on.

Does the other side understands - the state, specific Russian civil servants, that they inevitably launch the country under the same circle? Certainly. It seems to them, as it is started, that they block the response movement, that everything is under control. And by the way, it has already gone, if anyone did not notice.

*"Clouds are floating, clouds,

Swimming slowly, like in a movie ... "*

Khakassia, by Siberian standards, is a small region, Abakan is even smaller, everyone knows all who is worth it. The verdict was sentenced on the eve of the governor’s elections: the republic is preparing for the second time in a row to choose a local young communist, overturning the Kremlin protege again, this time also a participant in his own, - however, he ended up in the hospital and withdrew from the elections himself (while saying that “we will certainly make a Khakassia the best place for life” ), but it would not be chosen.

Of course, this is in no way connected with the process of journalist Afanasyev, with the fate of riot police, who refused to participate in his and dismissed. Of course. No one here about the fate of Afanasyev, except relatives and comrades, except for those who he wrote and tried to save about, will not pour tears, but people already understand: it is time to pour tears on their own. It's time.

The court decided to return the equipment seized during the search and money to Afanasyev or other persons by proxy. Lawyer Vladimir Vasin told the "New" that the verdict would be appealed:

“It will not be easy for anyone. Well, they have already lost freedom. ”

In September 2023, journalist Mikhail Afanasyev was half a year more than a “especially dangerous terrorist” -16-year-old teenager Nikita Uvarova in February 2022.