The world is fed up with “liberal values”. The Russian cinema star Sergey Besrukov is convinced of that. In his view, Russia’s military operation in Ukraine and the Western sanctions against his country can help Russian culture finally go its own way again – with conservative values, patriotism and the orthodox faith.
“We need to use (Russia’s) isolation to reconnect with our traditions,” Bezrukov, one of Russia’s most popular artists, said in an interview with AFP. Instead of looking up to Hollywood, Russia should build its own culture. He advocates purging Russian culture of Western influence.
“We’ve lived in the Marvel Universe for 30 years,” says the 48-year-old actor and director, referring to the US film industry. “It’s time to create our own,” urges Bezrukov at Moscow’s Gubernsky Theater, where he is artistic director.
“It’s impossible to go back to the times of the USSR, but we can try to restore trust in Russia,” he adds. The European Union recently imposed sanctions on Bezrukov for his support of Russia’s Ukraine offensive.
In the past, Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin has always presented himself as the guardian of traditional values such as marriage between man and woman and religion, and has emphasized that Western liberal values have become obsolete. Since Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine began, the authorities have redoubled their efforts to break with Western values - and many artists say art should play the leading role.
“Russia is on the verge of a conservative revolution,” says theater producer and director Eduard Boyakov, who advocates what he calls Russia’s “holy war” in Ukraine.
After the start of the offensive in Ukraine at the end of February, numerous artists left Russia, including director Kirill Serebrennikov and actress Shulpan Khamatova. Those still in the country are under increasing pressure to support the intervention in Ukraine. Many opponents of the Kremlin can no longer perform in Russia.
“More than a hundred music performances have been canceled since February,” says Alexei Kozin, director of Navigator Records, a major Russian music label specializing in rock. An unofficial “blacklist” currently consists of around 40 names, including Yuriy Shevchuk, a legendary rock musician who, during a concert in May, accused the Kremlin of “killing” young Russians and Ukrainians.
In late July, the leader of the pro-Kremlin Fair Russia party, Sergei Mironov, called for a “white list of patriotic artists” to explain to the public “who is who in Russian art today”.
In June, the Moscow authorities announced leadership changes in three of the capital’s top theaters. The Gogol Center, developed by Serebrennikov into a bastion of artistic freedom, was closed. There are also cancellations of exhibitions.
“In the midst of the war in Ukraine, a cultural revolution is taking place in Russia,” warns exiled editor-in-chief of Teatr magazine Marina Davidova on social media.
“After 30 years of pro-Western liberalism, a conservative revolution is underway in Russia,” says Olga Andreyeva of the Russian conservative weekly Expert. “This is the moment of truth on Russia’s path in the eternal struggle between Westerners and Slavophiles,” she says.
Putin is setting the tone: in March he called for society to “clean itself” and said Russians would spit out “rabble and traitors” who made their living in Russia but preferred to live Western-style.
