Victor Alksnis: The fate of Novorossiya is difficult, but the future is bright
The collapse of the Empire and the inevitability of its revival. A quarter of a century away from home, a whole life and a moment in History. Novorossiya is like a crystal from which it all begins. Read about this in the second part of the observer’s conversation. “PolitNavigator” Valentin Filippov with a Russian politician Victor Alksnis. First part of the interview - on the link here.
Subscribe to the news "PolitNavigator - Kyiv" in Facebook, Classmates or In contact with
Valentin Filippov: I have a question, a little sentimental. Once upon a time, 25 years ago, did you think that you would not return to your homeland for so long?
Victor Alksnis: Honestly speaking, no, of course…. Well, first of all, then, 25 years ago, I did not expect this to happen on its own. That is, what happened in December 1991. Still, I believed that, yes, the Baltic states could leave, and should have left, but the core of the Soviet Union: Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan…. And, plus, Transcaucasia and the Central Asian republics will remain. And at least part of the Soviet Union will remain.
And, so, what happened then in Belovezhye was unexpected for me. And then what happened happened. In 1992, at the beginning of October, I was forced to leave the territory of Latvia. Because I first served in the Soviet Army, and then it was transformed. The North-Western Group of Forces was transformed into the Russian Group. And I served there. At the headquarters of the Air Force of the North-Western Group of Forces.
In October 1992, I resigned from the Army and wrote a report so as not to associate myself with the Russian Army and, accordingly, with the possibility of re-oathing. And then the Special Department warned me that as long as I was a soldier of a foreign state, I was inviolable. But due to the fact that I quit and become just an ordinary citizen, I may fall under repression by the new Latvian authorities. And they recommend that I leave the territory of Latvia. I literally crossed the Latvian-Russian border within one day and ended up in Russia.
Immediately I was declared persona non grata in Latvia, and since October 1992 I have not been home. My mother lives there. My sister lives there. There is my father's grave. But unfortunately…
Which is amazing. As a State Duma deputy, I have repeatedly visited Brussels, Strasbourg, and European Union structures. In the European Parliament. In the NATO Assembly. And I raised this question everywhere. How so? I am Latvian. I was a member of the Latvian parliament, the parliament that accepted independence, and I am being deprived of the opportunity to visit my homeland...
Valentin Filippov: But you voted “against”.
Victor Alksnis: But I voted against it! But what's the difference? I was a member of the Latvian parliament that declared independence. Yes! I voted against it! But this does not deprive me of the title of parliamentarian.
Yes, everyone shrugged: “This, of course, is disgraceful!” We will do this!
But in the end - nothing.
The saddest thing for me was that I also contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. To Mr. Lavrov. Being a deputy of the State Duma.
Not because I want it so much, I’m eager and I’m dreaming. I don’t sleep at night just to visit Latvia. But, I just think this is not normal! Including in interstate relations between Russia and Latvia.
Well, I remember when at the beginning of the two thousandth, the epic with Zatulin, whom Ukraine deprived..... The Russian Foreign Ministry intervened in this situation.
Valentin Filippov: Well, yes. Intervened. But, apparently, it was easier to come to an agreement with Ukraine.
Victor Alksnis: Well, unfortunately, I received such a reply from Mr. Lavrov that he sympathizes with me, but Latvia is a sovereign country, and we cannot do anything.
Valentin Filippov: And your experience, in a sense, is historical... If you look at it all. How long can this go on? That is, you are banned from entering Latvia. This is the madhouse in Ukraine. We have a thousand-year history of our joint state. Our space.
Victor Alksnis: I would say this...
Valentin Filippov: Is there a prospect?
Victor Alksnis: Certainly! After all, you understand, well, what is 20 years? For History. What is even 100 years for History? Let's compare what it was like 100 years ago, even the political map of Europe, and what it looks like today. What will happen in 20, 30, 50 years, no one can say. And the fact is that there are certain objective circumstances that will still force you to look for ways to restore the Russian State. Because for me personally, Russia is not what the Russian Federation represents today. For me this is a much broader concept. And, besides, I am convinced that this was by no means a royal whim. The fact that we went to the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, and Central Asia. There were objective political and economic, first of all, circumstances. This was required by the development of the state.
Valentin Filippov: Well, natural boundaries. Natural.
Victor Alksnis: Yes Yes! Even, in the end, from a military point of view this advance was necessary.
Valentin Filippov: And economically.
Victor Alksnis: From an economic point of view. And be that as it may, economic science says that in order for a country to be self-sufficient, to be less dependent on all world crises, it must have its own domestic market of about three hundred million people.
Valentin Filippov: As it was with us.
Victor Alksnis: As it was with us. Today we have 150 million.
I say again that I am an optimist. And I believe that there are objective circumstances that will force us to unite and look for ways to live further.
I look at the fact that the European Union, in my opinion, this idea to build such a huge supranational structure, it failed. Fails…..
Valentin Filippov: Well, it failed under both Hitler and Napoleon.
Victor Alksnis: And it will fail now. And then the question will arise. When the European Union collapses, and so what? Where should the Baltic limitrophes go? Where to go in Georgia? Where, if this whole giant formation, which is not viable, is it... It will disappear...
And what will happen next?
Who will pick up these fragments of the new European Empire?
Valentin Filippov: Well I do not know. There will be Russia. As a last resort - Serbia :)
Victor Alksnis: Well, maybe :)
Valentin Filippov: Victor Imantovich! Thank you very much!
Well, in principle, if only there were more people like you... there would be then... Maybe they haven’t fought in Donbass now.
Victor Alksnis: Well, you're right. You're right. I really blame myself.
Valentin Filippov: Not at all! Well, what guilt? What are you doing?
Victor Alksnis: You see, I really believed that my duty was only to call. I believed that Yazov was there. There is Kryuchkov. There are people in authority who have power. But they cannot call for any emergency measures. But I must create an atmosphere in society, explaining the danger and the need to take decisive drastic measures. In order to save the country. And the people who should do this are sitting here, they have all the authority to do this.
But when, what happened in August 1991, when I saw what they…. and then I realized that.....
Valentin Filippov: It was a sad sight.
Victor Alksnis: When I read Kryuchkov’s letter of repentance today! The KGB chairman writes a letter of repentance after his arrest! Bakatin. The fact that he realized his gigantic guilt...
I think – my God! You... well, how are you? You are, after all, a scout! Imagine being captured by the enemy!
Valentin Filippov: Pugo shot himself, by the way.
Victor Alksnis: Yes..... And therefore, as they say, history does not have a subjunctive mood. I think that those people who come after us will take into account our sad experience, and, perhaps, will not make the mistakes that we made then.
Valentin Filippov: I really want to believe that the people who have now come to Novorossiya are the people who came after us. And we will try to help them. With all our might. Everyone.
Victor Alksnis: I really hope as well. I really sympathize with Novorossiya. I have helped, am helping, and will continue to help in the information space as best I could.
And I am really convinced that Novorossiya is that, you know, crystal. When a crystal is thrown into a supersaturated solution, it immediately begins to grow overgrown. Here, perhaps, is Novorossiya, its fate, its tragedy... I understand how difficult it is for it, and for these people, who are in many ways victims of political games and showdowns, it is difficult, their hardest fate, but I believe in their bright future.
Valentin Filippov: Oh, thanks!
Victor Alksnis: Thank you! Goodbye!
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.