ЗАХАР ПРИЛЕПИН: о новой книге, интеллигенции, мифах, противостоянии между красными и белыми

Episode Overview

The episode of “Big Turn” features writer and publicist Zakhar Prilepin, presented by host Timofey Golanin. The discussion centers on Prilepin’s new book “ABC of Intervention” and expands into broader commentary on Russian cultural identity, historical narratives, and ideological struggle.

Main Points and Arguments

Book Announcement and Editorial Work

• Prilepin presents “ABC of Intervention” as an “exposé” of information warfare, involving:
  • historical interpretation,
  • political analysis,
  • and connections to Russian identity.
• He also describes recent editorial work: correcting and updating other major Russian literature editions, citing hundreds of edits, including works associated with:
  • Mikhail Sholokhov
  • Sergei Yesenin

Sholokhov’s 1978 Warning as a Model

A major thread focuses on Mikhail Sholokhov and his 1978 letter to Leonid Brezhnev, warning about:

• attacks on Russian culture via cinema/TV/press,
• anti-Russian ideas and opposition currents inside society,
• the need for stronger defense of national culture.

Prilepin argues that Sholokhov anticipated later developments in perestroika, when Soviet ideology was weakened by two intersecting pressures:

1. Russian liberal/Westernizing opposition
2. quasi-Russian nationalism (framed as another destabilizing force)

He further claims Soviet leadership largely dismissed these warnings, believing that “everything is under control.”

Parallel to Ukraine (Pre-2014)

Prilepin draws an analogy between Sholokhov’s USSR-era warnings and the situation in Ukraine before 2014. He argues that, despite early assurances that Ukraine was “under control,” the state later moved toward hostility toward Russia—framing this as the combined result of:

• rising radical nationalism
• neo-Nazism
• and Western-backed ideological influence

Defense of Soviet/Russian Cultural Tradition

Prilepin argues that Western claims about “free art” are mythologized. He claims that European and Western cultural elites:

• discipline writers and artists into positions aligned with prevailing political narratives,
• especially regarding Russia and USSR history, as well as claims about Western wrongdoing.

He contrasts this with his view of Soviet-era cultural achievements, arguing that Soviet art and culture once had global stature and could produce works with lasting impact.

Debate: Stalin, Soviet Culture, and “Freedom of Speech”

• He rejects what he portrays as simplistic anti-Stalin narratives, arguing Soviet culture was more diverse than critics suggest.
• He contends that many later accounts of Soviet cultural life are ideological distortions.
• At the same time, he acknowledges Soviet mistakes, including repression and policy errors—while arguing that these do not justify the broader claim that Soviet culture was “blank” or unreal.

Reinterpreting the Civil War “Whites vs Reds”

A substantial part of the episode addresses Prilepin’s thesis about the White movement:

• He argues many White leaders were not truly independent, portraying them as dependent on foreign sponsors.
• He claims that a White victory would likely have fractured Russia, rather than preserving it.
• He emphasizes that White factions were ideologically diverse, not uniformly monarchist.
• He argues that internal conflicts among Whites weakened any unified alternative to Bolshevik power.

Ukraine’s Historical Continuity as Part of Russian History

Prilepin disputes claims that Lenin “invented” Ukraine, arguing that Ukrainian statehood/autonomy existed earlier—within evolving Russian imperial/crown frameworks (in his interpretation). He cites:

• Russian classics,
• and census-era demographics, to argue that “Ukraine” has long existed as a historical term/region.

Orthodox Church, Bolshevism, and Church Abroad

Prilepin discusses the Russian Orthodox Church during the Bolshevik period and criticizes narratives that erase conflict. He also:

• condemns ROCOR (“Church Abroad”) for alleged anti-Soviet cooperation and later disinformation.
• references statements attributed to Metropolitan Sergius of Stravropol and Patriarch Tikhon to argue that Orthodoxy should not treat Lenin purely as a total “spiritual enemy.”
• frames his position as defending a more complex historical reconciliation.

Controversy: Nicholas II Monuments and WWII Memory

He comments on the placement of a monument to Nicholas II in a space linked to WWII memory. Prilepin argues that such actions distort historical education and remembrance—contrasting Nicholas II-era defeats and treaties with Soviet military outcomes and commemorations.

Rights of Heirs to Creative Works (Legal-Cultural Dispute)

Near the end, Prilepin addresses debates about whether heirs may control or license major cultural works. He argues that:

• the state should protect public access,
• while heirs should receive royalties for a defined period,
• and that proposals to “write it yourself” function as effectively destructive or cynical alternatives.

He presents this issue as part of a broader struggle over Russia’s cultural heritage amid legal disputes.

Soviet-Style Patriot Education Through Poetry

Prilepin supports publishing poetry and hosting literary evenings in state institutions, referencing Alexander Bastrykin and a collection of poems connected to law enforcement and education. He argues this can:

• cultivate reflection and resilience, while warning against low-quality “amateur graphomania” unless supported by professional standards.

Overall Conclusion

Prilepin concludes by framing “ABC of Intervention” as a kind of “vaccination” against manipulation—meant to strengthen Russian historical and spiritual integrity and resist narratives that push society toward internal conflict.

Presenters / Contributors

• Timofey Golanin — host/journalist/political observer (presenter)
• Zakhar Prilepin — writer, publicist, social-political activist (guest)

Mentioned in the discussion (not as studio contributors):

• Mikhail Sholokhov, Sergei Yesenin, Leonid Brezhnev, Vladimir Lenin
• Stepan Razin
• Patriarch Tikhon, Metropolitan Sergius, Metropolitan Pimen (and others)
• Additional public figures referenced in examples (e.g., Bastrykin)