Write a letter to journalist Andrei Ivanovich Kolesnikov. “Now Putin is in the state of a full-fledged monarch”: Kommersant’s special correspondent and presidential “biographer” Andrey Kolesnikov about censorship, Navalny and the secret of Putin’s personal life

Elena Rykovtseva: Today's Press Hour's guest is Kommersant's special correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov. And since you are the only guest with us today, we can introduce our audience to you in more detail. I offer two of your descriptions at once. One is an official biography from the Ogonyok magazine website, where you publish columns.

Speaker: “Andrey Ivanovich Kolesnikov was born in 1966 in the village of Semibratovo, Yaroslavl Region. In 1979, while still in the sixth grade, he began to write articles for the district newspaper The Way of Communism. Became the winner of the competition "Towards the 60th anniversary of the USSR." Graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Lomonosov Moscow State University, worked for a year in the large-circulation newspaper "Accelerator" of the Institute of High Energy Physics (Protvino), then in "Moscow News". In 1996, he moved to the Kommersant newspaper as a special correspondent. Included in the so-called "Kremlin pool" of journalists. Laureate of the national award "Elite", winner of the award "Golden Pen of Russia", nominee of the award Andrey Dmitrievich Sakharov. Together with Natalya Gevorkyan, Natalya Timakova, in 2000 he prepared a book-interview with Vladimir Putin "From the First Person". Andrey Kolesnikov's books "I saw Putin" (2004) and "Putin saw me" (2005) won wide popularity. He is also the author of such books as The First Ukrainian. Notes from the front line” and the Kremlin chronicles “Vladimir Putin. Between Europe and Asia”, “Vladimir Putin. Bound by one chain”, “Vladimir Putin. Equidistence of the oligarchs” and documentary stories “See Putin and die”.

Elena Rykovtseva: And now - the unofficial characteristics of Andrei Kolesnikov. First, I read this dialogue in LiveJournal:

Writes almost like Dovlatov.

Fascinating writing, yes. Only the events themselves are kind of stupid.

And this also makes his articles similar to the works of Dovlatov.

And now from the Perm online publication "New Companion". Do not be afraid, Andrey, very complimentary, nevertheless, we will listen.

Speaker: “He saw Putin! And more than once. Monitoring the guarantor of the Constitution is the daily duty of Kommersant special correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov. A talented interpreter, a person through whose feelings the thinking part of Russians form their perception of the first person of the country, he is absolutely not struck by the "star fever". Working in the “Kremlin pool”, Kolesnikov managed to maintain a critical, and most importantly, ironic attitude to what was happening, not to lose his detached look, not to be imbued with the logic of officials. His evil, ruthless sketches of the life of the inhabitants of the Kremlin are not an attempt to prove that he is better than others. It's just his vision of the truth. He does not boast of his closeness to power, he does not casually drop phrases saying that the president of the country has some special relation to him, Kolesnikov. Although, speaking between us, this relationship certainly exists ... He willingly talks about Putin, although, of course, he has long been tired of this topic.

Elena Rykovtseva: Well, tired, not tired - such work. And so I still suggest that the listeners of our program call and ask Andrey Kolesnikov questions, maybe even about Putin. I'm interested in what else people might ask about him. It seems to me that everything is already clear. Or maybe someone else doesn't understand.

Andrey Kolesnikov

Andrey Kolesnikov: It would be nice to end there.

Elena Rykovtseva: Where to end?

Andrey Kolesnikov: So I listened to all this - they took it and finished it.

Elena Rykovtseva: No, you're alive, Andrei. Maybe you will even be scolded. I hope that someone reads you, and if they read, then they will scold you.

Andrey Kolesnikov: You can be sure, of course.

Elena Rykovtseva: I very much look forward to it. Andrey, is there anything else you don’t understand about Putin after all that has been written?

Andrey Kolesnikov: Yes, in fact, the answer may even be predictable, at least for you, Lena. Basically, I still don't understand anything. Just as it was incomprehensible six years ago, when we started writing this book with Natasha Timakova and Natasha Gevorkyan, so now there is no particular clarity. That is, sometimes it seems to me that an epiphany, that's what Putin is like. And then I start to doubt myself, that I'm right, all the more I start to doubt him. I suddenly at some point understand that a person, to put it mildly, is cunning in public all of a sudden - oh-pa! Well, okay, I didn’t have any illusions, but, on the other hand, it’s somehow strange ... And I constantly live in such thoughts about the object of my reports.

Elena Rykovtseva: And it becomes more and more incomprehensible. Why is he like this? Because he was taught at the KGB school to hide the essence, his "I"? Or is he just a very private person by nature? Why is it incomprehensible - at least it became clear to you?

Andrey Kolesnikov: It seems to me that this "I" also migrates in him. We won't go into that, I think, go far now.

Elena Rykovtseva: Why, we are free people in a free country...

Andrey Kolesnikov: No, maybe these thoughts of mine are not interesting. But it seems to me that all his external confidence, which he really needs when he is waging war in Chechnya, when he was waging war with Yukos, all this external confidence is very necessary for him, because internally he is not sure of himself. I'm not sure how, in principle, probably, any person cannot be sure of himself by definition. And just at this post it catches my eye, roughly speaking, to me. It took a while to catch my eye, but that's what I'm sure of.

Elena Rykovtseva: . In some of your comments, you once said that he, Putin, could make television freer, but he does not want to do this. How could he make it freer, what is the technique of freeing television? And why doesn't he want to?

Andrey Kolesnikov: The technique for liberating television is very simple. No need to interfere with just television, that's all. There are enough sane people working on television who worked on the same television when it was completely different. The president has said more than once that a return to that television, oligarchic, is impossible. But nobody needs it. TV just has to be professional, the news has to be professional, and the people who work in TV now, they're still able to make that kind of professional TV. And sometimes I walk along the corridors of Ostankino and see how people walk along these wide corridors, you know, hiding their eyes from each other. I get the feeling they're just embarrassed about what they're doing, you know. That's what's happening. And if they are embarrassed, it means that their brains are still working in the right direction, and they are capable of something else and want it. And the challenge is not to interfere with them.

But, indeed, Mr. Putin does not want this. He believes that now the society he is involved in is not yet ready for such television. He says: "We really need it, this is the television of the future." Literally tomorrow, a little more - and this television will be. I hope that we live to see this bright hour.

Elena Rykovtseva: That is, they are not yet ripe, they are simply not ripe for free television.

Michael from Moscow, hello. Andrey Kolesnikov will answer your question and then ask his question to the audience.

Listener: Good afternoon. I have a question for Andrey of this kind, about the summit, which has already passed long ago, but after all, it was.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Do you mean "Eight"?

Listener: Yes, eight. To be honest, I didn't understand anything. Well, they arrived, smiled, it is not clear what they agreed on. But after all, people are smart, they see that the country is plunged into an abyss of no one knows what. Putin himself is an average person. But the laws of the bureaucratic machine are ruthless, and this prospect does not bother them, I will even say more, does not scare them? Thank you.

Andrey Kolesnikov: . I have already worked at probably four summits or maybe even five, starting with Canadian Kananaskis, Evian was, then the American Savannah, then Gleneagles, and now this summit, but I also don’t understand very well why they are going to. That is, theoretically, everything is easily explained, and they explain it all the time: this is our club, we are going because we need to talk. And now they really talk, and there is a benefit for themselves in this. Indeed, they communicate a lot and quite tensely both in a bilateral and multilateral format.

Elena Rykovtseva: They, apparently, simply do not know how to explain what kind of benefit it is. I mean, it's there, but what kind?

Andrey Kolesnikov: I don't think they're convinced that they've parted favorably. But the dialogue between them is tense. They are talking about what Mr. Bush was talking about with Mr. Blair when this conversation suddenly came to light.

Elena Rykovtseva: Forgot to turn off the microphone.

Andrey Kolesnikov: A story that has become very famous. It's not that they forgot to turn it off, I saw a technical recording, and it seems that Bush just touched this microphone with his elbow, and he turned it on the other way around. And he simply did not pay attention to the red button.

Elena Rykovtseva: Well, still not enough.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Of course, this is not the king's business. It was Blair's business to notice.

Elena Rykovtseva: What happened.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Yes, which is what happened. I was a witness at this summit, a very indirect witness, like all the journalists in the press center, of how the Lebanese-Israeli resolution was being prepared. For two days, in fact, they have been preparing this resolution. She was born in terrible agony. At first they wanted to adopt two separate resolutions - one on the history of Palestine, the other on the history of Lebanon. Then part of the audience began to insist that it should be a single resolution. Everything else has faded into the background. In passing, just without looking, they waved a resolution on energy security...

Elena Rykovtseva: For the sake of which, in fact, they were going to seem to be.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Yes, which they've been talking about for a whole year. And then they signed about education, something else, ran out for coffee, came back, jumped out to take pictures, quickly back again. By evening they announced: "We have a resolution." They handed it out to journalists, we dug into it.

Elena Rykovtseva: I represent.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Well, what's the point? And where is this resolution?

Elena Rykovtseva: And where is the result of this resolution?

Andrey Kolesnikov: Has anyone else read it besides us? Do they actually remember her? And this was the content of the St. Petersburg summit. The adoption of this resolution was the main result of the St. Petersburg summit. Or that Ehud Olmert began to follow it, or at least read this resolution carefully between reports from the theater of operations and headquarters meetings? They drew arrows there, red and blue, the plan for entering Lebanon is red arrows, and blue ones are the Lebanese resistance. Here's what he did. Did he care about this resolution? No, of course not. What matters, of course, is what Mr. Bush thinks about it, that's all, nothing else. And he needs the arrival of Condoleezza Rice only in connection with the fact that she can explain to him more clearly, in more detail what Mr. Bush thinks about this.

Elena Rykovtseva: In general, the benefits of these summits are invisible to the world.

Andrey Kolesnikov: And to themselves, to a large extent, too. During this time, I had a question for the audience. Aren't you fed up, gentlemen, with politics? Are you tired of hearing about politics, tell me honestly? Radio Liberty is political radio. Aren't you tired of Radio Liberty?

Elena Rykovtseva: Very well. Elena from Moscow, hello. Please ask or answer.

Listener: Good afternoon. No, I won't answer. If I call, then I'm interested. I want to tell Andrei that he, I think, will hear a lot of compliments, and I also respect his pen very much. The question I want to ask him is this. It is known that loving humanity is very simple. But it is very difficult to love people. You are an observant, vigilant, subtle person. Do you think our president loves people? Are we interested in him?

Andrey Kolesnikov: You know, a very good question. I dare say so. Our president loves people, but not all. It even seems to me that there are very few of these people.

Elena Rykovtseva: Who does he love?

Andrey Kolesnikov: Yes. But of course they are.

Elena Rykovtseva: And who are these people?

Andrey Kolesnikov: I will immediately name two such people - these are his daughters, of course.

Elena Rykovtseva: Well, we don't even think about it.

Andrey Kolesnikov: He loves them.

Elena Rykovtseva: You have not named your wife, I noticed right off the bat. Well, the dog, he, of course ...

Andrey Kolesnikov: I saw how much he loves his children. I just saw this with my own eyes. When we were writing this book, they enter, for example, into a room, sit opposite us - he looks at them, and I see how much he loves them. It's impressive.

Elena Rykovtseva: Well, children and a dog - we still leave it out of the brackets.

Andrey Kolesnikov: He loves the dog...

Elena Rykovtseva: What else?

Andrey Kolesnikov: You see, it seems to me that perhaps the main problem of our president is that for him the world is exactly like this: he loves - he does not love. The world is black and white for him, he is divided into friends and foes, traitors and people he trusts. There are no halftones in this world.

Elena Rykovtseva: We will conditionally assume that those whom he believes, he loves them.

Andrey Kolesnikov: He loves them, but the problem for him, and, accordingly, ours, since he works as president, is that the world actually has halftones, the world is colored, in my deep conviction.

Elena Rykovtseva: And he doesn't know about it.

Andrey Kolesnikov: He knows, of course, he knows that there is such a point of view that the world is colored. But he does not agree with this. He knows life, and life tells him, all his experience, that in fact the world is black and white, it has its own, and there are strangers. And every situation can be dealt with in this way, and with each person it can be dealt with in this way. Mistakes are almost unforgivable. Because a person who makes a mistake immediately becomes a stranger, he immediately finds himself on the other side of the barricade, on the other front line. So it was, for example, with Leonid Parfenov. One report, one single report...

Elena Rykovtseva: About the inauguration?

Andrey Kolesnikov: No, not about the inauguration, but an interview with the widow of Yandarbiev, an interview with the widow of an enemy.

Elena Rykovtseva: That is, do you mean a formal reason for dismissal?

Andrey Kolesnikov: No, not formal. This is the actual reason.

Elena Rykovtseva: I thought that there was actually an inauguration, and the widow is already so ...

Andrey Kolesnikov: No. In his program, on the air, an interview with the widow of the enemy was aired. And that's it, at that moment he himself immediately became an enemy. And information, journalism no longer play any role here. He's just a stranger, and that's it, the topic is closed.

Elena Rykovtseva: “Why did Putin proclaim the fight against poverty as his main task, while the well-being grows significantly only among the rich?” - asks George from St. Petersburg.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Because it is very fashionable, in fact, on the one hand, because all international organizations are engaged in this. And secondly, because Mr. Putin really wants to overcome poverty.

Elena Rykovtseva: Honestly.

Andrey Kolesnikov: You may not believe it, but, yes, honestly.

Elena Rykovtseva: Let me remind you, dear radio listeners, that Andrey Kolesnikov asks you a question: are you tired of politics? Why do you listen to Radio Liberty? But I think that since they are listening, it means that they are not tired. Let's ask the question this way: why haven't you got tired of it until now?

Andrey Kolesnikov: Well, maybe I'm tired of it. I just don't want to suggest answers.

Elena Rykovtseva: So the answer is kind of obvious.

Andrey Kolesnikov: You know, drugs also bother a person, but for some reason he still injects.

Elena Rykovtseva: That's it. Alexander Vasilievich from the Leningrad region, hello.

Listener: Hello. I'll answer your question first, and then I'll ask my own. So, about Putin. I think that no one knows Putin at all. But he does not want free television because free television is smart television, and he does not need it at all, because everyone will know who is who.

And you asked a question about politics. Politics, of course, did not bother me, that's for sure. I enjoy watching all the political skirmishes. But the only trouble is that we again have neither free television nor radio. Everyone is somehow purposeful and does not allow any talk about something. That is, one channel does not allow talking about one thing, the other about something else, and so on. And this is the problem, of course. But I enjoy watching.

And as for Putin's fight against poverty, well, Putin is not fighting poverty, but Putin is fighting to ensure that those who stole this whole business would have it left with them. Because if, for example, this poverty is not overcome at least a little bit, then everything will simply be taken away from them.

And my question. Almost a year ago, Putin spoke on television for a very long time, he answered our questions. I made six calls. There were questions, there were suggestions, and so on. We were told that after that, if we did not receive answers to our questions, they would somehow respond anyway. As if nothing had happened. So, what do you think, only they didn’t answer me, or everyone else too?

Andrey Kolesnikov: You know, I think we received several million questions. Well, if you've asked six questions, then six is ​​probably hard to ignore. Moreover, if they were different six questions, then they can dissolve, but if it was the same question asked six times in a row, then it was such a question that they simply wanted to ignore. And they ignored him. And there's nothing you can do about it, because you have to remember that the force is on their side.

Elena Rykovtseva: Moreover, it is not by chance that they rejoice in every issue of Novosti: “A million calls have been received, two million, three ...”. Why rejoice? On the contrary, it turns out that questions dissolve, that a person does not have the opportunity to answer them. And they rejoice.

Andrey Kolesnikov: There are more and more unanswered questions.

Elena Rykovtseva: Yes. And the joy is insane from such an amount.

Andrey Kolesnikov: A lot of questions can't be answered live. Therefore, the last live broadcasts, in my opinion, they are very boring, of course. In principle, it became not very interesting. As well as press conferences, to be honest, with the participation of journalists. Maybe because, in principle, not only the questions are already clear...

Elena Rykovtseva: And filtered out.

Andrey Kolesnikov: ... but the answers are already more or less clear.

Elena Rykovtseva: The answers are clear. But the questions are all the same, Andrei, filtered out. That's what kind of hysteria we made when Pilar Bonet asked him questions about Yukos, she asked something else, and - "Well done Pilar!" Why, - she then asked, - Russian journalists cannot ask the same questions? Why are you rejoicing here?

Andrey Kolesnikov: It's not quite like that after all, Elena. At a press conference with the participation of journalists, at this extended, large press conference, a huge number of journalists are sitting there, and far from all issues have been agreed with the press service. There, I think, on the contrary, there are questions that cannot be ignored, but there may be six or seven of them. These are questions about pensions, about salaries, about international politics.

Elena Rykovtseva: Or a journalist can stand up and ask: “Why are you mocking Khodorkovsky in prison?”? Maybe such a question at the official press conference?

Andrey Kolesnikov: I don't know what stops people from asking these questions. For some reason they don't ask them, by the way. Well, there were journalists at the last press conference...

Elena Rykovtseva: Maybe because they will not be called later, will not be invited?

Andrey Kolesnikov: ... there were journalists from Radio Liberty, there were journalists from almost all Western publications accredited in Moscow. And they got up with their questions. But these were very quiet questions. I remember how at the last press conference of Mr. Putin in St. Petersburg... well, these press conferences also lasted an hour and a half, and everyone asked whatever they wanted. And now the press secretary gives the opportunity to ask a question to the person who comes up to the microphone, it is clear that he is very worried, and he says expressively: “RTVi is Vladimir Gusinsky’s television.”

Elena Rykovtseva: Already a question.

Andrey Kolesnikov: “How do you feel, Vladimir Vladimirovich, about the prospect of expanding the G8? And in what foreseeable future can this all happen? Thanks for the answer". And he sits down. That is, as you correctly said, Elena, at the very beginning it was a question. What happened next was not an issue. But for some reason this is happening.

Elena Rykovtseva: That is, not only Russian journalists, you want to say, but also journalists from television companies that are not dependent on the Russian government ...

Andrey Kolesnikov: There is an opportunity to ask a question. In the same St. Petersburg, these nightly press conferences, which I just mentioned, well, each one is an hour and a half.

Recently, an Iranian journalist came up to me in the Kremlin, it was at a meeting with Hugo Chavez, and he said with great annoyance: “I could not ask Putin a question at this summit. Because twice the press secretary pointed at me and said: “Here is this gentleman in a suit and a red tie.” And then two people in red ties jump up, and they carry a microphone. And I didn't ask a question." I tell him: “You would change your tie for the next press conference, and put on a tie, for example, yellow, which is unlikely to be found in others.”

Elena Rykovtseva: There will be no competition, yes.

Andrey Kolesnikov: “We need to prepare for such press conferences and that’s it.”

Elena Rykovtseva: "The man in the hat", for example.

Andrey Kolesnikov: There is always an opportunity to ask a question. Another thing is that now they say: "No one asked about Yukos." Why, is it not clear what he will answer about Yukos? Yes, he always has an answer ready, and two answers, and three answers to a question about Yukos, about Khodorkovsky. And what, he Pilar Bonet did not answer these questions? What, it was very interesting? Was it an event in the public life of the country or what?

Elena Rykovtseva: The only event was that she decided to ask a question about the situation of Khodorkovsky in prison, that a man is already in prison, and they continue to spread rot there.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Yes. If I'm not mistaken, she asked this question... it was probably before the summit, and in this mode, where...

Elena Rykovtseva: No, before some of his trips. It was a meeting with Spanish journalists.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Yes. And there was such a format when it was generally very comfortable to ask questions, when no one interfered at all.

Elena Rykovtseva: It's clear.

Andrey Kolesnikov: And Pilar Bonet, actually, well done. She gets up and destroys everything in her path. I look with pride on Pilar Bonet.

Elena Rykovtseva: That is, Andrey, if you sum up your monologue about the procedure for asking questions, do you think that, after all, Russian journalists themselves do not dare to ask questions to the president that would be unpleasant for him? Isn't it the press service that filters questions and says, "It would be better if we didn't ask about Khodorkovsky..."?

Andrey Kolesnikov: Yes. I, Elena, all this to the fact that the world is not black and white.

Elena Rykovtseva: What happens all the same, and so, and so.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Of course. I told you that the press service interacts with journalists, and some of the issues, actually small, are, in my opinion, agreed upon. But a journalist always has the opportunity, sooner or later... or rather, the president has the opportunity to get a question from journalists that he does not expect.

Elena Rykovtseva: And which is unpleasant and uncomfortable for him.

Andrey Kolesnikov: And which he dislikes.

Elena Rykovtseva: But at the same time, the journalist who asks this question, despite the fact that he knew that this question was not expected from him and not really wanted, he runs the risk of being left without this press conference next year, without being invited to it. He needs to choose.

Andrey Kolesnikov: You see, this is also difficult. Every day something happens...

Elena Rykovtseva: In your field, you can also break the rules of the game. That is, you don't, but you can violate.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Why?

Elena Rykovtseva: They tell you: “Night press conference. These three questions are for publication, and these two are not for publication.” And if you take Putin's answers "off the record", you probably won't be treated so well anymore. Therefore, you follow these rules of the game.

Andrey Kolesnikov: First, no one really knows, I insist on this, these rules. Everyone, I think, has their own idea of ​​these rules.

Elena Rykovtseva: Why? You yourself said that you have a rule not to write about what happens on the plane, for example. There is a set of rules.

Andrey Kolesnikov: This is what I want to say. Everyone has their own idea of ​​these rules, including me. Here I have a single rule, which you have already mentioned. So I once agreed that we do not write about what happens on board the advanced aircraft that we fly, because this is an internal affair of the aircraft. But, you see, such things are negotiated on the shore. There is nothing happening there that, from the point of view of journalism, which I do, would be worth writing about at all. These are absolutely everyday things of seconded people. But it even has common sense. There is no subject of description for a journalist, because there is...

Elena Rykovtseva: But now we are only talking about whether there is an agreement or not. There is an agreement. Whether there is something to write or nothing to write, but there is an agreement.

Andrey Kolesnikov: In this sense, there is a rule, and this is what exists for me. There are no other rules for me. Other people may have some other idea about these rules. That's the rule, really, then I don't break it. But maybe the presidential press secretary has a completely different set of rules in his head, and according to him, I break it all the time. And in this sense we are in constant contradiction. And indeed it is. And now it seems that everyone has already given up on me for some time.

Elena Rykovtseva: That is, you are already "in the law."

Andrey Kolesnikov: And a year and a half or two years ago, after each note, I had difficult, some kind of hopeless conversations with him. We argued. People always disagree with something. But they were not critical: "That's it, you're missing the next event." But they said this: “Andrey, you are wrong. It's completely wrong." But this can be argued. This is a normal, in principle, operating mode. But if you misquoted Putin, that's when he comes to you with a triumphant look and says: "That's it, finally, you got into a puddle."

Elena Rykovtseva: "Lied - get it."

Andrey Kolesnikov: I say: "So what? ..". "Write a rebuttal." Therefore, you need to be more careful with this. But they themselves made life easier when they began to give transcripts very quickly on "Kremlin.ru".

Elena Rykovtseva: Yes Yes.

Andrey Kolesnikov: True, very often you do not have time to take advantage of this, because at the moment when this transcript is being written, you write a note to the newspaper, but from time to time ...

Elena Rykovtseva: ... you can look.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Yes.

Elena Rykovtseva: Good. We finish the professional part of the conversation and move on to calls and questions from listeners.

Peter Mikhailovich from Moscow, hello.

Listener: Hello. And I just want to continue a little professional conversation.

Elena Rykovtseva: OK then. Your right.

Listener: When Andrei is finally tired of politics, he can go to the former Leninka, to the special store and look at the newspaper Der Völkische Beobachter. There are wonderful lessons of journalism there.

Andrey Kolesnikov: And we passed the newspaper "Der V?lkische Beobachter" at the Faculty of Journalism, I remember.

Listener: So you could see. So I remember very well, when I looked, I was amazed at this. Reportage photos - then there were no computers, it was impossible to fake, 30s - left column: Germany - smiling Fuhrer, smiling children, wonderful nature of Germany, everyone is so kind, soft, fluffy, and in the right column - England - stiff lords , impoverished outskirts of mining towns, children swarming in the dirty ground, and so on. Politics is people's life. Only the inhabitants of Rublyovka can get bored with it.

Elena Rykovtseva: Thank you, Peter Mikhailovich. Nina Sergeevna from Moscow, hello.

Listener: Good afternoon. Andrey, compared to you, I'm probably two or maybe three times older than you.

Elena Rykovtseva: Three times - this, Nina Sergeevna, is too much.

Listener: And I've been doing science all my life. And from the age of three, I can say, I know what a radio wave is. My father taught me when he did ... my father was a signalman in the army, although he was the manager of the State Bank. And even then, back in 1943, we listened to Radio Liberty... no, Radio Liberty, in my opinion, appeared somewhere in 1946. And since then, the BBC, the Voice of America, including Radio Liberty. I also learned English because of this. I answer the first question, that Radio Liberty is an opportunity now to call and at least talk to you.

In the meantime, I was engaged in science, I was carried into this politics completely without my desire. And by the way, I have a direct relationship with Putin. Because last year an article was published, perhaps you came across it, it was published in the Vse Yasno magazine based on my materials, although I have materials on Putin ... well, I keep diaries and I deal with disasters. And I have social, natural, man-made disasters there - everything. And I found a common explanation for them. I'm doing the pulse of the earth.

Andrey Kolesnikov: And so are we... in the papers.

Listener: So, there was an article about how the planet controls Putin. I want to say that Putin is very predictable, that he has absolutely no irrationality, absolutely.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Now, if Putin is predictable, then what will he do tomorrow, please tell me?

Listener: Predictability there is complete, and it is no longer interesting.

Andrey Kolesnikov: What he will do tomorrow is no longer interesting, I understand.

Listener: And why is it predictable, because it is difficult for him to distinguish nucleons from nucleotides, one can say.

Andrey Kolesnikov: You know, I'm not even sure that Mr. Putin, if asked, will not begin in detail, carefully looking at you, to tell the difference between a nucleotide and a nucleon.

Elena Rykovtseva: Will start. The question is what will be said. But what will start is one hundred percent.

Andrey Kolesnikov: And you will be surprised what the difference is between them.

Elena Rykovtseva: So, we continue to read questions from listeners who come to the pager. Irina Volkova writes: “Andrey, please accept compliments from women. You are just adorable! And if possible, a question at the end of the year. What do you think, is it possible to use the word "radish" in relation to at least the district police officer or the head of the housing office? I don't know who used this word "radish". Irina, could you at least explain...

Andrey Kolesnikov: If I am not confusing anything, then Mr. Putin once spoke ...

Elena Rykovtseva: And is it good that he said that?

Andrey Kolesnikov: You see, this is Mr. Putin's difficult childhood, and nothing can be done about it.

Elena Rykovtseva: Well, yes. Irina, understand him.

Andrey Kolesnikov: You can't imagine how many people met this word with great enthusiasm when they heard it. And by how many points, I think, his rating has grown by the way.

Elena Rykovtseva: Exactly.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Because this is our president, as they say...

Andrey Kolesnikov: …He is the same as us.

Elena Rykovtseva: “Mr. Kolesnikov, your literary language is not bad, but being President Putin’s chronologist will not bring honor to anyone. Mr. Putin is gray and insignificant for me personally. A petty KGB official, by chance, ended up in the presidency. And they will not remember him with a kind word, ”writes Oleg Borisovich. It says here: “He will be remembered with a kind word,” but I think that they simply wrote it down wrong. Probably, "they won't remember", according to the logic of the speech.

Andrey Kolesnikov: You can even be absolutely sure of it.

Elena Rykovtseva: What will not be remembered with a kind word?

Andrey Kolesnikov: That's how it was written. You understand what word they will remember, this is verified experimentally. Assumptions about this can be any.

Elena Rykovtseva: But what about the fact that "it is not enough honor to be a chronologist"?

Andrey Kolesnikov: You see, maybe not enough honor. Do you think I will argue with this? I will not argue. I just have a job right now. It will probably end soon for me. There will be some other one. I'll be the chronologist of something else.

Elena Rykovtseva: Really. Do you believe that you will become someone else's chronologist? There is a prospect that the president will change.

Andrey Kolesnikov: No, I said "something else". And this is a separate conversation, what I'm going to do next...

Elena Rykovtseva: Can you tell us now whether the president of Russia will change in 2008 or not? Tell us exactly.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Of course it will change. I have absolutely no doubt about that. As well as the fact that four years later, Mr. Putin will try to return.

Elena Rykovtseva: In 2012.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Yes. In fact, a person leaves in order to return.

Elena Rykovtseva: And about the river, which would not be worth it twice ...

Andrey Kolesnikov: But it will be a completely different river. It seems to me that he does not need to change the Constitution in any case, and he does not want to change it. Because he needs her the way she is now. This is a rough arithmetic calculation. If he would have stayed now, he would have violated the Constitution, would have quarreled with the whole world, the "iron curtain" is not an easy situation.

Elena Rykovtseva: So still would not have had the right to 2012, it turns out, besides.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Plus just four years. And here you rest peacefully for four years ...

Elena Rykovtseva: Gaining strength.

Andrey Kolesnikov: ... but at the same time you supervise the main directions.

Elena Rykovtseva: Keep your finger on the pulse.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Yes. You still follow what is happening in the newspapers. And after four years, you come back for another eight years. Instead of four, you get eight, and in time, I suddenly thought about it, it turns out, well, the whole life of a generation of people is mine, yours.

Elena Rykovtseva: This is unfair, of course.

Andrey Kolesnikov: It will be 16 years under Putin. Plus another four years, where he will also be invisibly present.

Elena Rykovtseva: And people will not even understand how they would live with other presidents, there will be no way to compare, check. It's not fair, it's not fair.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Yes. In this sense, the situation will be like with Brezhnev.

Elena Rykovtseva: Yes. No need.

Andrey Kolesnikov: 20 years, it turns out, and not the worst.

Elena Rykovtseva: “Tell me, please, when you were still working in Yaroslavl in the newspaper Put Kommunizma, what did you write about, your main idea?” asks Raisa Nikolaevna from Moscow.

Andrey Kolesnikov: My main idea was to finish high school. I started doing this in 6th grade. And he actually wrote about his school. I wasn't involved in politics then. Wrote all sorts of... Well, it's a long story. But I, as they say, am not ashamed of a single word that I wrote in the newspaper The Way of Communism.

Elena Rykovtseva: “To say that politics is boring is an understatement. But where can you get away from it?.. You will have to not listen to Radio Liberty, Ekho Moskvy and not read Novaya Gazeta. But this is impossible! - the Mayorovs write.

“Mr. Putin loves all the people with whom he went to intelligence, to the St. Petersburg Institute and on the territory of the GDR. He loves much less those with whom he worked in the Sobchakovsky mayor's office. Perhaps he doesn’t love them at all, but he can’t drive them away, apparently because they don’t know something about him, ”So Anton thinks. This is his version.

Andrey Kolesnikov: Well done Anton! Except for the last phrase ... Yes, maybe. Not for this reason they work, not because they keep him on a short leash. Absolutely, of course, not on this. Everything, Anton, is more complicated. And so you are absolutely right.

Elena Rykovtseva: We listen to Andrey from Moscow.

Listener: Good afternoon. Andrei, tell me, please... Well, everyone has their own America, their own Russia, their own Putin. And, of course, every person has their own point of view. Personally, it seems to me, although I do not pretend to be the truth, Putin is rather mediocre, indeed, as many say, and a very notorious person. In particular, two notable facts from his biography testify in favor of such an opinion.

The first is a breakdown when, in response to some question, Laurent Zacchini, somewhere in Europe, he invited him to Moscow to perform specific operations on the genitals.

And the second is when he, flying to some conference (maybe you accompanied him) somewhere in Southeast Asia, Islamic, dropped by to the opening of the Chechen Congress. And for some reason this was then little noted and discussed. And I think it was quite an important statement. He came there and made some short, chaotic speech in the evening, accompanied by submachine gunners, sitting between Kadyrov and their president. He said the following phrase: "Russia has always been, is and will be (I literally quote very close to the text) the support of the Islamic world in its struggle in the international arena." Many of the Chechens sitting there in two rows had their jaws dropped when he said this. You could see it directly on television.

Andrey Kolesnikov: From happiness.

Listener: Maybe.

Elena Rykovtseva: Andrei, we have a second, do you have one word, any?

Andrey Kolesnikov: On this occasion?

Elena Rykovtseva: Yes, let's talk about it.

Andrey Kolesnikov: I have no comment on this, because I was not at that meeting.

Andrei Ivanovich Kolesnikov is a journalist whose biography raises many questions from the public; for all his publicity, he is a rather closed person. He believes that no one should be interested in his private life, but people want to know the details of his professional and personal path.

early years

Andrei Ivanovich Kolesnikov was born on August 8, 1966, not far from Rostov, in the village of Semibratovo, on the banks of the Ustye River. The journalist does not like to talk about his childhood, noting that there was nothing special and remarkable about him. Already at school, Andrey's inclinations for writing were manifested, he brilliantly wrote essays and notes for the school newspaper. Soon he "grew" to publications in the local press. His first article in the newspaper "The Way of Communism" saw the light when Andrei was only 13 years old. Later, Kolesnikov became the winner of the competition "Towards the 60th anniversary of the USSR." Thus, even from the school bench, Kolesnikov chose his future profession.

Education

At school, Andrei Ivanovich Kolesnikov studied well and even then had great ambitions. Therefore, no one was surprised that at the end of school he went to conquer the capital. The presence of publications and a certificate with good grades allowed him to enter the prestigious Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University. The years of study flew by quickly, and after graduating from high school, yesterday's provincial had to start his journey from the lowest rungs of the career ladder, Kolesnikov had no special connections and acquaintances, he had to rely solely on himself.

First steps

After university, Andrey Ivanovich Kolesnikov began working in a regular circulation newspaper, in a newspaper called "Accelerator", which was published at the Scientific Institute of High Energy Physics. But rather quickly, he managed to move to a more well-known and reputable publication, Moscow News. Here he went through the first real professional school, learned to work with material, with people, to meet deadlines, he acquired connections and acquaintances in his environment. Gradually, Kolesnikov's materials became more noticeable and brighter. These years at Moskovskie Novosti were a great start for the next take-off.

Conquest of the profession

Changes were coming in the country, and new media are beginning to appear en masse, the information environment and the agenda are changing. By this time, Kolesnikov was already an experienced and interesting journalist with his own style. That is why he receives a tempting offer in 1996. He is called to the newly opened Kommersant, where he works as a special correspondent. His colleagues were a wonderful team of professionals and true fans of their work. Together with Natalya Gevorkyan, Gleb Pyanykh, Valery Drannikov, Valery Panyushkin, they published a newspaper of a new type for the country, with a special style and look. Andrey was not lost against the background of his bright and famous colleagues. In 1998, after the crisis, the team ceased to exist. The journalists left for other projects, and only Andrey remained at Kommersant. He became a real locomotive for the publication. Then new people came to the team, the newspaper will receive a new impetus for development. But Kolesnikov is not lost in it, he is an important part of it. In 10 years, Valery Drannikov will say that Andrey is 20% of the capitalization of the publication, an important asset of the newspaper. He still works at Kommersant today and does it with pleasure, although there are many other projects in his life.

"Putin's Journalist"

Coverage of the activities of the president and the government is a special part of journalism, only the elite are allowed into it, and Andrei Ivanovich Kolesnikov has been among them for many years. A journalist, biography, whose photo is always in the TOP of search queries on the Internet, the only one of his colleagues who was able to repeatedly conduct detailed conversations with V. Putin. He often allows himself harsh remarks and uncomfortable questions, but the head of state forgives him, and Kolesnikov has invariably remained in the “Kremlin pool” for more than 10 years.

Journalistic and writing activities

In 2008, Kolesnikov headed the unusual publication "Russian Pioneer", where he can realize his enormous professional potential. He also writes books all the time. Today, he has almost two dozen successful and bright publications, among them the work “I saw Putin” and almost a dozen more books about the president and Russian politics, “Cars, girls, traffic police”, “Funny and sad stories about Masha and Vanya”.

During his career, Kolesnikov received all domestic awards in the field of journalism. He has several Golden Feathers, the Sakharov Prize, state awards.

Personal life

Information workers usually skillfully and carefully protect their personal space. Andrei Ivanovich Kolesnikov is no exception. The journalist, whose personal life is of interest to many, never particularly talks about his family and children. It is known that Andrei was married to the writer Masha Traub and the couple had two children. Today Kolesnikov is happily married and has two more children. Alena's wife, a psychologist, spends more time with her children. But Kolesnikov is a good, enthusiastic father and devotes every free minute to his children. He even wrote the book Fatherhood, where he talks about the delights of parenthood with humor.

Biography, life story of Kolesnikov Andrey Ivanovich

Andrei Ivanovich Kolesnikov is a Russian publicist and writer who has become widely known for writing books about.

Young journalist

Andrey Ivanovich is from the Yaroslavl region. He was born on August 8, 1966 in the village of Semibratovo. Creative inclinations appeared in the boy at an early age. Feeling a strong urge to write articles, the student began to write notes. The first of them appeared in periodicals at the time when Andrei was in the sixth grade. Thus, the question of where to send the stops after graduation was resolved long before the last call.

The graduate certainly wanted to become a journalist, and no one else. Moreover, the capital - the district level did not appeal to Andrei. The young man left his father's house and went to Moscow.

The beginning of the way

It would seem that after graduating from Moscow State University, the path to any reputable media was opened to a certified journalist. In fact, everything turned out to be not so simple: it was necessary to break through by gaining experience.

Yesterday's student began his journey to professional journalism with a newspaper. A small newspaper was published by the Institute of High Energy Physics. Having gained a little skill in editorial work, the ambitious correspondent found a job at Moscow News, and then at Kommersant.

Confession

Thanks to the talentedly written materials, Andrei Kolesnikov made a name for himself and found his circle of readers. The time has come when the presidential administration paid attention to him and offered to cover the activities of the Russian leader.

The young journalist found himself in the so-called Kremlin pool, that is, among the employees accompanying the head of state on various trips.

Meetings with Putin

This kind of work allowed him to describe his vivid and unforgettable impressions of being next to a person who determines not only the internal order in the country, but is directly involved in solving geopolitical problems. Andrey Kolesnikov outlined them in the books "I saw" and "I saw". At the same time, readers did not have to doubt either one or the other. Naturally, a journalist from the Kremlin pool had a unique opportunity to personally observe the actions of the guarantor of the Constitution. For his part, the president knew by sight the representatives of the media, who followed him on his heels and hungrily hung on his every word. And not only knew, but also singled out some of them. Including Andrei Kolesnikov, whom he considered one of his favorite publicists.

CONTINUED BELOW

In collaboration with Natalya Gevorkyan, known as a personal biographer, and Natalya Timakova, former press secretary of the president and prime minister, Andrey Kolesnikov wrote "In the First Person". This work includes an interview with, as well as his monologues. The creators of the book noted that they saw each other mainly at a later time and in an informal setting. In the process of communication, both the main character of the interview and the journalists had to show patience and restraint.

Personal life

Andrey Kolesnikov was married to a colleague in the journalistic workshop, who bore him two children.

On November 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin presented state awards to deserving people in the Kremlin. Deserving to write about this special correspondent of Kommersant, editor-in-chief of RP Andrey Kolesnikov draws attention to the fact that until now the President of Russia, when presenting awards, did not warn the audience, and in their person the whole country, that they were all waiting for us. much more difficult than before.

Without a doubt, some people before the awards drew attention to themselves, not that much more than they should, but still more intent than the rest. And above all, of course, Lev Leshchenko, who was now standing in front of the camera of one of the federal channels and thinking aloud for her:

Have I done so much in my life to receive such a great award (he was worthy of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, 1st degree. - A.K.) ?! Yes, we worked hard!

Perhaps some confusion was reflected on the face of the correspondent of the TV channel at that moment, so Lev Leshchenko decided to clarify:

In the army!

Maybe I'll even say this: they are chronicles, my songs! They are like milestones, they are like pages...

He thought a little more and finished with a sense of accomplishment, finally convincing himself:

Yes, apparently, he deserved it!

Of course, his song about Victory Day deserved a special story:

I've been singing it since 1975! You can imagine?!

The problem seems to be this:

And every time you need to do it sincerely!

Yes, in a sense, Lev Leshchenko could only sympathize.

Answering my timid questions, Lev Leshchenko said that he received the first state awards under Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev. So, the Order of Friendship was awarded to him after the Olympics-80 for a song about Misha ... Yes, this is when "it becomes quieter in the stands ..."

I came to Pakhmutova, she said that there is a song, but, Leva, I don’t know when and where it will sound, and whether it will sound ... I recorded one or two takes ... So, I think, yes, an applied song ... After me, Tatyana Antsiferova and ensemble "Gems" recorded. And the director Tumanov, a good man, made a version so that my voice prevailed ... Then you know ...

I must say, now Lev Leshchenko, telling this story, seemed to be a very humane person. He did not invent anything and was not proud of anything, but simply recalled with pleasure how he lived and, by the way, really won. And how was it not Leonid Brezhnev who handed him the order, because the Secretary General, of course, only awarded cosmonauts, but now who is handing it? Correctly.

And since then, Lev Leshchenko has received a lot of other things, including the Order of Merit for the Fatherland and IV, III, and II degrees (they don’t give the first without them), and now he has reached the main one.

Now it remains only to receive the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called, - to be honest, I told him with sympathy (including St. Andrew the First-Called).

Not only, - Lev Leshchenko unexpectedly firmly corrected me. - And the Hero of Socialist Labor?

I wanted to tell him that Socialist Labor had been closed for some time, but that would have been too cruel. In the end, they give the Hero just Labor.

The main thing, - Lev Leshchenko unexpectedly said, - would not live to see the time when you still will have what they give.

And my sympathy for Lev Leshchenko, who, by all indications, did not care so far, increased even more, and he was already talking about Rasul Gamzatov, who in Soviet times received, it seems, absolutely everything, but when they asked him what he still left to take, honestly admitted:

Post and telegraph.

And all the same Rasul Gamzatov is remembered by Lev Leshchenko with his phrase addressed to ordinary people who met at least once on his life path (or just on the street): “The next time you see me, don’t pretend that you don’t know me! »

I, like, apparently, Lev Leshchenko, felt in this statement all the power of self-irony, generosity and forgiveness of the great son of the Soviet people in relation to his children.

The announcer Igor Kirillov told me that he would receive the Order of Friendship today.

Friends! - he even shouted out or, rather, recited this word. It meant a lot to Igor Kirillov.

I honestly told him that he deserved it for sure.

Well, what does he deserve? .. - Igor Kirillov immediately began to doubt. - Or maybe he didn’t deserve it. Just worked for the country. Both this one and this one...

Of course, I immediately got worried. What other country was it? Dual citizenship?.. I wouldn't have thought about it... Something else?

Yes, it turned out to be something else. I realized in time that the announcer probably had in mind the USSR and Russia. And so it turned out.

And then which one do you like best? I ventured to ask him.

But the one where the young are everywhere dear to us, the old people everywhere we honor! - Igor Kirillov suddenly cried out, but even if he spoke in an undertone, these great half-voices would be heard under the arches of the hall of the first building of the Kremlin like the doomsday alarm, and the second half-voice - like his bell ringing. So he was rewarded by someone who was not indifferent even before Vladimir Putin, and he managed, we must give him his due, to use it.

Singer Valeria received the Order of Friendship of Peoples and recalled one great artist who not so long ago, on his eightieth birthday, drew attention to the fact that he had not been awarded anything, and was upset. “But simply,” she told him, “you, in my opinion, have everything. There is nothing to give.” They sat down, once again carefully counted everything and were finally convinced: in fact, everything they could, they had already given him, completely. But the mood, he later said, did not rise from this.

In addition, Valeria, answering my question about the latest events in Ukraine, recalled that she somehow got on the lists of the “Peacemaker” and since then she has not been in Ukraine, but if she hadn’t got there, she would never have did not go:

This, you know, how Yuri Antonov was asked why he does not go to Ukraine, although he is not on any lists, and he answered without hesitation: “Well, I don’t want to be a prisoner of war.” Valeria assured me that all people of good will, and most of them in the hall, now also think so.

Alexander Zbruev admitted that he has been working in the theater for 57 years, "and it's nice that you have not been forgotten."

So you've made an impression! - he suggested with a high degree of probability. - But, you know, this is not what we should strive for. Absolutely not for this.

I caught myself on the fact that today in the hall there are really a lot of people of good will. Still, only a good person could argue like that.

But why? I asked, and I was really interested.

Yes, how? - Alexander Zbruev asked again. - We need to play. Both in theater and cinema. It after all was once. Movie. And now I would not say that someone is making a movie. Either they cannot prove themselves, or they are not given, or they are always looking for money to prove themselves. Where is the human soul? Where is the heart, I ask you! The artist accumulates in his soul and in his heart, and if he doesn’t give it away - that’s the trouble!

The monologue was a success without exaggeration.

In general, - Alexander Zbruev finished, - I try not to act in films. - True, now I am filming with one director. I won't tell you his name. But I'm taking pictures of him. Because I did Boris Godunov and Prince with him in the theater, I played Rogozhin ... So I can star in the series with him.

Alexander Zbruev has already told too much for even me to understand that we are talking about Konstantin Bogomolov.

Well, yes, they both seem to be lucky.

Vladimir Putin did not keep himself waiting for something. There were many laureates, and this time everyone was trying to speak out for some reason. I noticed that this is actually a snowball. It is enough, for example, to remain silent to the first of the awarded, then for some reason to the second - and the rest prefer to receive their award and return to their place. But if one started, everyone, and the rest, it seems, begin to think that now they must definitely convey something. However, the truth happens to some, in fairness, what to say.

Cosmonaut Sergei Ryzhikov, having risen into orbit at one time, apparently turned out to be too close to God, and now, if I am not mistaken, he is always in touch with him, which, by the way, never tires of emphasizing:

By the grace of God, I, a simple boy from an ordinary family, was lucky enough to fulfill my childhood dreams - to serve in the air force, to perform a long flight as part of an expedition to the International Space Station ... And for myself, I consider this an advance for further worthy work for the good of the Fatherland and for the glory God's.

The president of the Kurchatov Institute, Mikhail Kovalchuk, revealed state secrets with his characteristic ease:

The Kurchatov Institute originally arose to implement the atomic project, more precisely, the creation of nuclear weapons. And I must say that in the shortest possible time this task was solved!

Until now, the goals of creating the Kurchatov Institute have been spoken more vaguely. And in the words of Sergei Ryzhikov, God knows how much longer this would have continued if not for Mikhail Kovalchuk.

Moreover, the president of the Kurchatov Institute did not even slow down on this recognition:

I would like to say that today we have launched a large-scale project, which, in fact, surpasses the nuclear project! This is a transition to a new technological order based on nature-like technologies that are within the natural resource circulation of nature!

But this was exactly where it should have stopped: those present in the hall risked becoming banned from traveling abroad in a moment. But Mikhail Kovalchuk stopped.

You know, - Lev Leshchenko addressed the President of the country, - it is unusual to speak from the podium, but I really want to say it. I'm going out for the first time...

But he certainly didn't have to justify himself to anyone. Yes, he didn't.

I am personally very grateful to the public, - Lev Leshchenko nodded to those present. - I would still work a little! And I’ll work, I’m probably not going to leave! I hope that if Providence, the Lord God and you, Vladimir Vladimirovich (after all, the correct sequence or, more precisely, the logical chain has been passed by the singer now. - A. K), give me such an opportunity!

Although it is in this situation, if we are pursuing applied goals, maybe we should change their places.

And finally, Lev Leshchenko was the first in the Catherine Hall to include political issues on the agenda:

Russia is a great country! We are not accustomed to submit! We want justice, peace and tranquility for our Fatherland. I hope that Vladimir Vladimirovich knows how to do it, and we will help him!

The President of Russia, however, did not make it clear that he knew this.

She prepared poems for this matinee. Anna Akhmatova once dedicated them to "Native Land":

We do not carry in treasured amulets on the chest,

We do not compose verses sobbingly about her,

She does not disturb our bitter dream,

Doesn't seem like a promised paradise.

We do not do it in our soul

The subject of buying and selling,

Sick, distressed, silent on her,

We don't even remember her.

Yes, for us it is dirt on galoshes,

Yes, for us it is a crunch on the teeth.

And we grind, and knead, and crumble

That unmixed dust.

But we lay down in it and become it,

That is why we call it so freely - ours.

I felt sad, of course (I wanted to forget about all this prospect at least for the time of the ceremony).

Alexander Zbruev became the first person that day who accepted the gift silently.

Irina Viner-Usmanova, who received the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree, admitted that she was happy to stand “again near the flag of Russia, usually it is always next to me, but only from above. And this is the greatest happiness when our generation of children stands, because adults are obtained from children.

I must say, Irina Viner-Usmanova, among other things, reported encouraging news:

In our country, by the way, they do more rhythmic gymnastics than football, according to statistics!

Especially after some were deprived of the opportunity to play football, as well as to beat passers-by on the streets (including balls), statistics, I’m sure, have indeed finally turned to rhythmic gymnastics.

Businessman Alisher Usmanov said something in Vladimir Putin's ear, and then honestly shared with the participants of the event:

I just asked for forgiveness from Vladimir Vladimirovich that one family takes a lot of time.

Yes, there are quite a few.

I would like to dedicate my appeal, - continued Mr. Usmanov, - dear Vladimir Vladimirovich, to you, and not to myself, and to talk about what I feel (that is, after all, strictly speaking, to two people. - A.K.) . Because what I feel in this hall, I said five years ago. And this feeling of a miracle that happens to me in the country headed by Vladimir Vladimirovich continues! Thank God, another five-year period has passed!

No, after all, it was not even about two, but about three.

And today I can say my deep gratitude to the president for such a high assessment not only from myself, from the team, from all the athletes of the Fencing Federation, which I head today, - continued Alisher Usmanov. - On behalf of all the employees of two huge holdings, Metalloinvest and MegaFon. And, fortunately, I have the opportunity today to say a huge thank you from my compatriots, from all citizens of Uzbekistan, where I was born, from the President (Uzbekistan. - A.K.), dear Mr. Mirziyoyev, to an ordinary citizen for your great fraternal support! And for the fact that Russia continues to play the role that the Almighty has destined for it - the preservation of the human soul on one sixth of the land!

As it turned out, there are too many people behind Alisher Usmanov. A little less, it seems, than for Vladimir Putin himself (especially considering the results of the latest opinion polls dedicated to the Russian president - A.K.). Although sushi, strictly speaking, is still less than one sixth. However, we do not fully know what Alisher Usmanov meant.

Abbess Feofaniya, receiving the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV degree, supported, first of all, Sergei Ryzhikov:

I thank the Lord that the Lord vouchsafed me to restore monuments of federal importance, which the Moscow Patriarchate entrusted to me!.. God save me for such trust. I think that in Russia and Moscow the monuments that are being restored will bring good to people and our generation.

To the entrance of the first building, Abbess Feofaniya was brought, let us thank the Lord, the 500th Mercedes, which, God willing, will bring good to herself. And if we learn to thank the way she does, then maybe we will too.

Director Karen Shakhnazarov, who became the owner of the Order of Alexander Nevsky, said that he was proud of this award and that “in general, no matter what they say (and they say something. - A.K.), it is culture that creates a nation, it is in its Responsibility lies in the formation of a nation! And I hope that to some extent my small share of participation in this is!

Just a few words, and that's it, and we now have Karen Shahnazar Nation Shaping.

The captain of the gas pipeline tanker "Christophe de Margerie" Sergey Zybko intrigued from the first word:

My crew and I had the honor to participate in the historical events on the way to the development of the Russian Arctic, which I read about as a teenager, in the book “Two Captains”, and now to be there.

The question was, first of all, whom then did we see in front of us now, if Sergei Zybko was there, in the Russian Arctic. I must say right away that a satisfactory answer, despite the fact that Sergei Zybko's speech was long, but what's there, he seemed to be drifting ... No, a satisfactory answer has not been received. But:

Well, in general, the sailors are patriots, - he said. - And we are all patriots. And when there is not only an economic effect, but also a political effect, it is especially pleasant. We brought the first cargo to England, and from there the liquefied gas went to Boston, the United States of America. It was very pleasant for us!

And everyone was pleased.

Yuri Borisochkin, head coach of the Russian women's sambo team, who was awarded the Order of Honor by the president, also read poetry, and what is especially valuable, these were his own poems, moreover, dedicated to Vladimir Putin personally: “No one can compare with you, not even in how can you not be surpassed, and hardly anyone will doubt your super-righteous path.

However, in the word "hardly" all the same, a share of doubt was laid by itself.

Georgy Golukhov, President of City Clinical Hospital No. 31, having received his Order of Honor, turned out to be the most hospitable of all:

Just in case, Vladimir Vladimirovich, I want to say that our hospital operates 24 hours a day, is located on Lobachevsky Street, 42, next to two government highways: it is convenient from Vnukovo and along Leninsky Prospekt too!

The proposal was, if I'm not confusing anything, met with understanding.

But the singer Leonid Agutin, who received the Order of Friendship, said nothing. Here you don’t know what is easier: to remain silent or speak out.

Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin also said a few parting words, and somehow they turned out to be weighty:

A colleague said that he considers the difficulties we are facing to be temporary. I want to argue with you. The further we go, the higher we climb, the more difficulties there will be.

We heard this, if I am not mistaken, for the first time. Vladimir Putin seems to have become a hostage to his own desire to push off, as usual, from the above by someone, and the dubious beauty of this dubious thought carried him away. And he already - and all the rest behind him. There, higher, where even more difficulties. No, well, at least not on this holiday...

Probably, the president is really preparing to tell us something about a ram in the Sea of ​​Azov.

But the guarantee that we will always overcome them and do it brilliantly is people like you, your teachers and your students! - The ending was predictable.

While the participants in the ceremony were clinking glasses of champagne with the President, I noticed that the Tyumen house painter Ekaterina Khodakovskaya, who became the honored builder of Russia that day, carefully twisted the glass in her hands and carefully placed it on the table next to the microphone stand.

Don't drink champagne at all? I asked her sympathetically.

Ekaterina Khodakovskaya shook her head categorically:

I don't drink at all!

Zhelnov: Andrei, yesterday there was an inauguration, which you also attended, about which you wrote a note in Kommersant today. And your first note, as far as I remember, about Putin is just his first inauguration 18 years ago, also on May 7th. Here is the version 4:0, Putin 4:0, or 5:0, whichever is more convenient, you can say 5:0, how he has changed, how do you think, watching him for a long time and watching him yesterday, and watching until yesterday .

Kolesnikov: I don't know about you, I believe that after five or seven years people are not able to change, generally speaking. There may be some cosmetic changes in himself, which he himself can arrange, roughly speaking.

Zhelnov: Cosmetic, what are they? Dangerous clause.

Kolesnikov: Those are cosmetic. It's not a clause at all. And serious, radical, profound changes in a person, especially at such an age at which, so to speak, we already found him when we met, when we were writing the book “In the First Person”, together with Natalya Gevorkyan and Natalya Timakova, already to be, of course, in a person, according to my ideas, cannot. During this time, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, perhaps, in my opinion, became, perhaps, somehow more calmly, or rather, more indifferent to journalistic creativity. Maybe it can be called more magnanimous, but in fact it’s just that he’s just not up to us at all. This is from such, more or less personal observations.

For the rest, here is everything that he told us then, at the beginning of 2000, during the election campaign, which was stormy then, and what was included in the book “From the First Person”, now he has consistently embodied all this and continues to embody it in life. And he made a reservation there, by the way, that he really likes the idea of ​​a monarchy, because the monarch does not owe anything to anyone and can not think about the election campaign all the time. And in this sense, the situation changed a little yesterday, compared to, of course, what it was before, because now Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is really in the state of such a full-fledged monarch, in fact, is, because he is not threatened by the next election campaign, he really can not think about it and devote himself to all the work for the benefit of his people, theoretically. It is in this that the change of his fate, perhaps, yes, consists.

Zhelnov: Psychologically, how do you think, did he begin to feel like a monarch over all these eighteen years? That's exactly how he builds his communication...

Kolesnikov: I don't know, it's hard for me to judge. I don't think so, in short.

Kolesnikov: Well, remember how his presidential history began in general? It began with Chechnya, with Dagestan, then he, perhaps, was much more authoritarian in some things than now, of course. Do you remember those glassy eyes when the word "Chechnya" is pronounced with him... I remember that as soon as I got, due to some misunderstanding, like everyone else here, in the "Kremlin pool" for the first time, after the book, after it was , it would seem, some kind of communication, moderately confidential in some places, I ended up in the “Kremlin pool”, where everything is very far from Vladimir Putin, all of us, but sometimes there were meetings that are not there now, what is called off the record, that is called, for understanding, they are now, in my opinion, not enough ...

Zhelnov: They were completely cancelled.