Talking off-podium with Russian authors Akhmetev and Neshumova

On their first ever trip to the United States, prominent Russian literary figures Ivan Akhmetev and Tatiana Neshumova will present a series of lectures at the University of Oregon, starting Friday, Oct. 3. Here’s a taste of what they have to share. For more details see our What’s Happening Calendar.

Russia has a rich history of samizdat, or reproducing forbidden literature by hand. What shape does that take now?

Neshumova: It’s mostly on the internet. For example, if a gay author wants to publish something controversial, they will use tools which are not censored by the government [in this case, blogs with readership of less than 3,000].

What other forms of samizdat are there?

Neshumova: I am friends with young poets, in their early thirties, associated with Pussy Riot’s Maria Alyokhina. They just discovered using an old typewriter and have created five editions of underground poems, which include illustrations. The collections are called Obedki [Table Scraps]. Some poems are political and others are not.

Much of your work consists of reconstructing the past. As a historian, what are your responsibilities to the present?

Neshumova: When I go to political demonstrations, I take photos and videos, but I had to stop putting them online. I am just recording history now. I am not sharing it, because I don’t want the people in the photos to be monitored by the government.

Ivan, I understand you were once institutionalized and subjected to involuntary psychiatric treatment.

Akhmetev: Yes. In [1979], I got involved with some Moscow dissidents and took part in a human rights demonstration. There were KGB agents who took pictures of me. So, the following year, I was put in “psychological repression.”

Have either of you ever been confronted by the authorities in recent times?

Neshumova: We were gathered at a monument to Mandelstam, reciting samizdat poetry. There were police there with paddy wagons, ready to arrest anyone if they used a microphone to amplify their voice.

Akhmetev: We gave all of the policemen autographed copies of the book that was being recited, complete with autographs, as a show of faith.

How much is self-censorship part of the Russian literary tradition?

Neshumova: Well, I want so badly to write about the war in Ukraine right now, but I know better than to do so. The authors I research and write about moved very carefully in those times, because they had to. During the Great Famine[Ukraine, 1932-33], they never used the word for starvation, never put that down in correspondence. They used code words.

Are you concerned that your visit to the United States might draw negative attention to you back home?

Akhmetev: I sincerely hope not.

Neshumova: These are very complex times. One thing contradicts another. There are counter-measures against the west for sanctions against Russia. Meanwhile, the cultural institutions of Russia encourage exchange with the U.S. and Europe, because there are still cultural goals, to realize these people and not just separate from them.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!