Q: You visit Russia every year. What changes did you notice on your trip this summer?
A: There was a stronger mood that things are not going well. There was a protest of the babushkas, the grandmothers, and those in a weak social position against the monetization of benefits. In Moscow, pensioners could travel for free. The same thing with medical care. Utilities were very cheap. The government decided to give people limited sums of money and stop free assistance.
It was the first-ever kind of mass protest by the older people, their first anti-government demonstration. Even some of the teenagers and young adults demonstrated.
The government spent about $9 billion to soften the blow, and they will introduce the changes more gradually. Some cuts were suspended.
Q: Are people losing confidence in the government?
A: People do not trust the government on the whole. Many people who still trust President (Vladimir) Putin do not trust the authorities in general.
Several youth groups gathered recently in Moscow to discuss the general situation and collaboration between groups, and their members were beaten. The majority believes the attacks were organized from above. People speak of “storm troopers” being organized. By whom, is not known.
Q: What impact is Russia seeing from higher oil prices?
A: High oil prices are benefiting the Russian economy. But when Russian people speak of it, some call it a narcotic. The government is making some concessions to the people with no real reform.
The biggest oil mogul in Russia, former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, is in jail. From prison he is now producing manifestos for left-wing causes. He has had a conversion. He was the greatest “oligarch,” and now he is prepared to join a coalition of the liberal side, the Communist Party of the Russian Federation and other forces.
Q: Should the United States worry about Russia’s recent military exercises with China?
A: Many political observers believe it was done to show the United States that Russia is not alone. If the U.S. does not behave properly, there is a possibility of Russia arranging some kind of alliance with China. Most political observers view that as foolish.
Russia’s development should be in the direction of democracy. Up until now, much of the democracy is in name only. In my opinion, the social democratic form of capitalism is probably the optimal one for Russia, and I think Khodorkovsky would agree.
Q: Why has Denver developed a strong Russian émigré community?
A: It may be pure chance. With me, it was that our eldest daughter settled in Denver. The rest of our family joined one by one. I don’t see any special features of Denver or Colorado that attract Russians.
Maybe 90 percent of the Russian-speaking people here are ethnic Jews. It is a very high percentage. There are also two groups of religious dissidents from the Russian Orthodox Church in Denver.
Q: How are the newcomers settling in?
A: For many of the older people, the adjustment has been difficult. For the younger people, it is different. Some of them have prospered.
Q: One of your English teachers in Moscow was the grandson of Leo Tolstoy. Are your grandchildren learning Russian?
A: I am afraid that my grandson, who is 9, won’t be a Russian speaker. My two granddaughters, who are older, speak Russian.
Q: Have you found discrimination?
A: No discrimination. A lot of bureaucracy, yes. Almost every former Soviet person compares the bureaucracy here to that of our motherland. It is amazing how many incompetent bureaucrats we come across.
Q: You moved to Denver permanently in 1997. What do you most miss about Russia?
A: I miss my friends. My work.
Edited for space and clarity from an interview by staff writer Aldo Svaldi.
