Why was Zakhar Prilepin invited to Slovenia?

Why was Zakhar Prilepin invited to Slovenia?

A report of a Ukrainian activist in Slovenia on how organizers of the 34th Slovenian Book Fair invited for the presentation a Russian writer, a combatant in the Russian-terrorist troops in Donbas, Zakhar Prilepin, and then promised the Embassy of Ukraine that the event would be canceled, but ultimately arranged a private event with a pre-selected audience and enhanced security.

Perhaps, I am a terribly apolitical person, because on the day when I noticed the announcement on Facebook about the literary evening of Zakhar Prilepin in Slovenia on November 25, I thought, “Well, another Russian writer is going to visit us.”

But my two compatriots from Transcarpathia (Zakarpattia), who happened to visit me in the Ukrainian library, which operates within the cultural and educational organization Rukavychka in Ljubljana, lifted the veil off my eyes.

Prilepin, as you may know, is not just a Russian writer, but also a person who participated in battles in eastern Ukraine on the side of illegal armed groups and repeatedly called in various interviews for ethnic cleansing of Ukrainians.

Baffled, I immediately forwarded information about the “literary evening” to the Embassy of Ukraine in Slovenia.

The response was instant. Every effort on every front was aimed at prevention of this disgraceful for Slovenia and deplorable for Ukraine uncultured “cultural event”.

The Embassy sent a note of protest to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, the Minister of Culture of Slovenia and the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, co-organizer of the fair.

An article by the Ambassador of Ukraine to Slovenia Mykhailo Brodovych was published in the leading Slovenian publication Portal Plus.

With the help of an acquaintance I appealed to journalists of national television in Slovenia.

A statement of the Ukrainian Centre of PEN International to organizers of the fair “No platform for a terrorist!” was issued.

The Ambassador of Ukraine had a personal meeting with the Director of the Slovenian Book Fair Zdravko Kafol. Then he exhaled with relief, “Olga, the good news is, according to Mr. Zdravko, Prilepin should not be present at the event.”

If he promised, let it be so, but I thought, the translation of his book was done, the publication was funded, so romance is romantic, but the publishing house would not sabotage the idea of promoting the product, even without its author. Therefore, it was necessary to go to the “event” to express the protest in person. I also asked all Ukrainians in Slovenia to join.

On the day of the “presentation” I came to the fair in advance for assessment and, if needed, to reserve a seat.

Passing the information stands, I accidentally heard how a woman asked the worker of the fair, “Where can I get tickets to Prilepin?”

“That's it!” I thought and got in a queue after her.

“There are no tickets for this event,” the employee replied.

The woman said disdainfully, “It can't be! The organizers have specifically informed us by email that the participation in the event is only for those with a ticket to prevent various incidents and so that no odd squad would enter.”

The employee once again confirmed that there were no tickets, the woman stepped aside in confusion and started calling the organizers.

So, Prilepin will be there, I understood.

I asked this same employee, where the lady's room was and went there to inform everyone concerned about what I heard.

Then I approached that part of the fair where presentations and meetings with the authors take place and where the Slovenian organizers were arranging this maximally secured from Ukrainian participants event with the pre-selected audience.

There were already several guards walking back and forth.

I pretended I was busy with something not related to them – waiting, because I was actually awaiting a friend, who soon after joined me with her Slovenian husband and daughter.

Meanwhile, something obscure happened: from the corridor, which led to the hall where the meeting was to take place, a Ukrainian woman was brought out holding the posters saying #SaveOlegSentsov.
The guard leading her was a wardrobe's height.

She said that the director of the fair Zdravko Kafol himself had ordered the guard to take her out, because, according to him, “there is no place for those, and he would not allow scandals at his fair. And if she does not oblige, he will call the police.”

Nonsense. This is a direct and insolent violation of constitutionally guaranteed human rights and freedoms!

But do not fight with sticks against guns. So, I quickly coordinated my friends who just came up: our plan was to get inside at any cost, so we behaved quietly and, of course, like other listeners, spoke Slovene.

We walked into the hall among the very first, sat down.

Immediately following us were Zakhar Prilepin, translator Borut Kraševec and, though I couldn't believe my eyes... director of the fair, Zdravko Kafol. The one who lied, straight to the face of the head of our diplomatic mission, that Prilepin wouldn't be here.

He stretched out his hand to the villain and said, “I am glad to welcome you at our fair.”

image Immediately following us were Zakhar Prilepin, translator Borut Kraševec, director of the fair, Zdravko Kafol

And then the translator noticed me.

We weren't personally acquainted with him, but he blocked me for the informative article about the terrorist Prilepin, which I shared on his Facebook page, and before doing so, I'm sure, closely examined me. Colleagues, anyway, and Slovenia is a small village, after all.

Borut Kraševec tensed, but did not dare to kick me out of the hall.

The presentation began.

Slovenian TV joined. My friend and I winked at each other, “Good, they will show us protesting.”

We agreed to wait for the questions from the public. Decided, we would ask.

Prilepin made an unpleasant impression of an extreme cynic. He was flagrant and arrogant. Didn't forget to tell that he loves to read the Gospel...

And suddenly the broadcasting crew brusquely left the hall – pity, for we lost the chance to convey the information to the Slovenian media. Although it's clear it was planned – to avoid unpleasant shots.

My friend’s husband (Slovene) said, “On Slovenian TV everything is settled beforehand, so they wouldn’t show anyway.”

Thus, we were waiting for the communication with the public, and finally a moderator wondered whether anyone in the hall had any questions.

My friend lifted her hand. She was given word, and started to speak, in Slovene, so that everybody could understand, while Borut Kraševec was translating her words for Prilepin into Russian, “So you say, you read the Gospel. Moreover, you write about the monastery. Kind of spiritual matters. So how does it align with the killing of Ukrainians in Donbass? Is this some form of spirituality, or merely hypocrisy?”

Kraševec turned red, and Prilepin was shaken. He obscenely replied, “Firstly, let those Ukrainians who were shooting in my side answer this question…”

My friend didn’t give up and started asking additional questions. Then, a woman we saw at the information stands momentarily jumped to us and demanded that we stay calm and let others ask their questions.

The perimeter of the hall was filled with formidable men ready to take us out. As my acquaintance, who works there, explained to me later, Zdravko ensured the presence of many guards dressed in civil on purpose.

There were no answers, as you understand, to the rest of the questions my friend inquired.

Borut Kraševec asked again, if anyone wanted to say something else. I raised my hand, but the word was given to another person.

I raised my hand again. The moderator realized I wouldn’t yield and said, “Well, go on, Olga, ask.” So I asked. In Slovene, for everyone present to understand.

“I respected you before,” I said to the translator, “in my opinion, you were one of the best Slovene translators from the Russian language.

I even looked up to you regarding myself as younger and less experienced colleague of yours.
But how did it happen so, that you chose to translate such a book which never can be on its own, for along with it you promote its author and his life?”

Borut started confusedly replying, and said at last, “I don’t consider Prilepin as a terrorist. I don’t think he did anything bad, altogether”…

The audience was buzzing. Everyone resented us and hissed, “What does it have to do with what you say if this is a literary event?”

Meagre people!

By the way, I was surprised that I have never seen these people before. Well, in the first row there was a representative of the Russian Centre in Ljubljana. But that's it.

And what about everyone else? I well know nearly every Russian in Slovenia. But there was no familiar face...

My friend and I glanced at each other, got up and went out noticeably.

Prilepin cynically threw at us, “Thank you for coming.”

As soon as we were behind the door, the security guard conspicuously locked it with a key.

I asked him where is the director of the fair Zdravko Kafol? I really wanted to find out whether this is a new trend in Slovenia now to lie to one's face? But the guard only shrugged his shoulders saying he didn't know anything.

In the corridor we saw other people who were not admitted to the presentation.

The guard pretended he's deaf and ignored everyone.

This is how for the first time I learned what an antidemocratic country it is.

Leaving the fair I saw a lone Russian protestant with a poster, which said that he was ashamed of the Russian government and such rogues as Zakhar Prilepin.

image A lone Russian protestant with a poster

Everything that was possible to photo document has been forwarded to the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Slovenia with the purpose of stating complaints to Slovenian high rank liars.

Olga Moroz, Head of the Cultural and Educational Society in Ljubljana "Rukavychka", exclusively for Ukrainska Pravda: Life

Translation: Oksana Wasikowska

december 1, 2018
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