Kirill Serebrennikov-Gogol Center Situation

I am being bombarded with letters, queries, comments, requests prompted by the questioning by authorities on May 23 of Kirill Serebrennikov. There is an enormous amount of misinformation out there. I am disturbed by that, in part, because I am so sick and tired of the "fake news" we must live with all the time now. In order to help overcome this problem in regards to the Serebrennikov situation, I put together the text below. This is not the "truth," but it is a listing of the facts as I understand them today, along with some considered background and thoughts. This may change. But this is where I would put us today. Let me say this immediately: I was extremely impressed with the immediate response from the Russian theater community: folks spoke out forcefully and instantly. I do believe that this has cut off any path for the govt. to pull shenanigans (if that's what they were looking to do) in the near future. But, and this is crucial, we must keep an eye on this and watch developments. It is, indeed, a potential danger spot. For better or worse, let me add now: Reliable reports are circulating that actor Yevgeny Mironov asked Vladimir Putin directly about the investigation and Putin replied, "Oh, they're fools."

I am hearing on many sides that Kirill was arrested. Kirill was not arrested. We need to be very careful.

Kirill's home and office were searched. He was questioned at investigative headquarters. He went home (or to the theater) around 5:30 p.m., as I understand it.

He is NOT a suspect in the case they are investigating.

He is NOT a person of interest in the case.

He is being questioned as a witness, as are other people.

The case is an embezzlement case from 2015 at the Moscow City Culture Department. It involves monies allegedly stolen by employees of the Culture Department. Some or all of the money was money that Putin earmarked for the Gogol Center.

My understanding from the press is that two people have been detained (not arrested) - they have nothing to do with Kirill or Gogol Center. One was an employee at the Culture Dept.

These are the facts as we know them, or until they are clarified by new information.

What are the worries?

That there have been denunciations sent by Kirill's many "enemies," which may (or MAY NOT) have triggered the intensity of this investigation of his activities.

Kirill has been denounced in the press often, and again recently, as an artist who is "alien" to Russian values.

Kirill has often been outspoken in his criticism of the govt. and this might (MIGHT) make it more likely that they would go after him.

Religious and nationalist groups love to repost photos from Kirill's productions showing naked actors, phalluses, men kissing, etc. He is part of a cultural war.

There was a negative campaign about Serebrennikov and Gogol Center from the first moment of its pre-founding in fall 2012 and it has continued on and off for a very long time.

Important: the searches were carried out WITHOUT a search warrant. Not good.

Important: REPORTEDLY (this is not confirmed) questions of the "immorality" of Serebrennikov's productions was brought up during the investigation, which was supposedly strictly a financial thing.

Important: Russian law enforcement agencies (like the FBI getting Capone on taxes, I might add) use financial reasons to go after people for political reasons (the Capone comparison ends). This is a danger. It means we need to watch the situation carefully, but I do not see that it has crossed the line yet.

What are the paradoxes?

Kirill is a former (?) best friend of Vladislav Surkov, one of Putin's once closest advisors and one of the most odious, dangerous political figures of our time. He's now out of the picture - I have no idea what the relationship is between the two. BUT. This was an extremely hard nut to swallow when it was going on. Surkov was creating and supporting nationalist thug groups, was cranking up hatred and beatings of immigrants in Russia, was spouting fascist-like patriotic slogans (that Putin was picking up and using) and Serebrennikov proudly was telling the press that he had "coffee with Surkov" every morning and didn't see anything wrong with that. He has, more than once, played on both sides of the field. He once met personally with Putin, who gave his theater an enormous grant - in fact, the very grant that is now under investigation because there are suspicions that it was not used properly. My point is, we're not talking about a saint walking the ground.

What are the good points?

The theater community has come together like I haven't seen it do in ages, maybe ever. Many of the stars who are in Putin's back pocket have come out vocally in defense of Serebrennikov (actress Chulpan Khamatova, actor Yevgeny Mironov). Critics, writers, actors, directors, are writing long public posts that are being read and shared on mass media, quoted in the press.

Managing director Vladimir Urin of the Bolshoi Theater has come out in strong support of Serebrennikov. Urin has Putin's ear, is on his culture council. He has pointed out that the press jumped to reporting this as a scandal and everybody jumped and screamed at the scandal, not knowing the facts. I tend to agree highly with Urin.

What is to come?

My feeling is that we keep close tabs on this and follow the story as it develops. I believe that any loud, noisy reaction now is premature. If this turns out to be a tempest in a teapot and, as it's dying down, foreign organizations start banging pans, it will do nothing and look silly. Better to be ready to step in at the proper moment and say something strongly at a juncture when it can have an effect. My feeling is that, to my surprise and pleasure, the Russian theater community stepped up and made it very clear that they would not put up with this treatment if there were to be a whiff of persecution in it. The strong, immediate and, I would say, radical response across the board of the Russian theater community, was enormous. I think (I THINK) they did the job. We'll see.

My Recommendation

Wait and see. Be ready to respond, but only at a moment when it can truly have an effect. This could be never. It could be in three days. It could be in 4 months. Not "sexy," I know. But this is not yet the issue that many want to make of it. It is still, in my estimation, POTENTIALLY a major issue.