Novaia Gazeta have recently accused me of going to tusovkas, they think that I have no right to partying, “in time, when his young activists been held in prisons.” That was written as “Editorial Note,” page 11, Novaia Gazeta N93, issuded on December 12. Later at night, radio station “Echo of Moscow” scrutinized my behaviour on same matter with a help of writer Alexander Kabakov and politician Dmitri Rogozin. Rogozin talked about me correctly, he demonstrated perfect diplomatical style, whereas Kabakov, he is known as Limonov-hater, so it was not surprizing to be supported by Rogozin and ferociously attacked by Kabakov. What is infuriating that liberal Novaia Gazeta and also liberal “Echo” have choosen to attack me, a man with a best personal record amongst leaders of political parties. I am only one who was arrested, was put on trial, was sentenced and eventually been held in diverse prisons and camp for two and a half years. No Russian political leader, liberal or communist have such record. Why to accuse me? What for? Liberals wants me to be in prison 365 days per year? Each year?
When I was inprisoned I didn’t demanded others to suffer in same time. I didn’t demanded from my young camarades to live asexual, ascetic lifes, I was happy to hear that my party camarades got drunk on my 60th anniversary at Central House of Writers when I was in prison, counting the bricks at prison wall of Saratov’s Central Prison. Moreover I was working on party behalf when in prison. I have wrote eight books, smuggled them out of prison, have published them, have earned the money and those money were spend on party needs. So, I supported party even when I was in prison. Everybody at National-Bolsheviks party knows it, my camarades respect me. I respect them, we having no problems of blaming each other, as I believe bolsheviks from Lenin’s party have no reclamations to make on Lenin’s behaviour. Russian politics are dangerous occupation, so prison should be rather usual event in life of radical Russian politican. I have no sentiments about prison, or to be imprisoned, it is my job, it is job of my party camarades.
By coincidence during the same day, earlier in late morning I have met a man with some speical information for me, coming from FSB sources. I was told that until spring time I will be “nuetralized,” I will be put in prison or: my informer waited for a while, then he pointed his finger at me - Killed? I asked. - Yes, he said, it will be masked as some money problem. That you borrowed money, or some have borrowed money from you: he didn’t know exact details. - It might be that they are trying to intimidate me? asked I. - It might, he said. But leadership believe that you personally responsible for intensification of party political activity from the end of 2003, because you were liberated in July 2003.
So I have on one hand an information that secret services will prepare a plot to arrest me, or to kill me, and on another hand I have liberal media which gives me lessons of moral. Those lessons are lessons of only one moral, of strict ascetic l was which are not applied to any other political leader, not to Yavlinsky, not to Zuganov, but only to Limonov. Honestly speaking, I am hurt by approaches of liberal media. It hurts me because of its injustice. First of all I am not party-goer, I barely visit one party per month. Secondly, when I was liberated I felt that I should go to celebrations and exibitions because I mgiht be arrested second time, and who knows will I be able to get out of prison soon. - Look at fate of Abdullah Odjalan, Edward, said I to myself, he is imprisoned for life. Then, when I remember myself counting those fucking bricks in the wall surrounding Saratov Central I feel strong deire to look at beautiful girls for a while, to drink Russain champagne or even French champagne. I don’t feel guilty. I feel that I have a right.
That writer Kabakov, he was never inprisonsed, never deprived of anything, he even called my girlfriend Katia as “devka!” That Kabakov, that writer. He was probably drunk, cause he spoke on telephone, it was after midnight. Russian writers over forty felt obligation to attack me in press, because they are jealous of my talent, or ther just have back characters? How do I know, but I know that proverb “that is no prophet for your motherland” should be corrected to proverb: “that is no prophet for your generation.” Youngsters, born in the late seventies and in eighties are on my side. So, the future is mine, because I am liked by the future, by young people.
I am doing rightful things. After spending time in prison I am enjoying pieces of life, while I am active politican and risking my life again and again when fighting antidemocratical, unlawful Putin regime. It was behaviour of Bakunin, of Lenin, such behaviour is common for all revolutionaries of all times.
Liberal medias are hypocrites. In order to give lessons of morality to such a man who I am, they at least should have moral code higher than mine. I don’t see among them man with high morality. I am moral authority myself. As a moral authority I want to tell them following:
I am convinced that prisoner, liberated from prison have right and have an obligation to enjoy life. It is amoral to ask him to suffer all the time, even out of solidarity.
Revolutionary radical politician is not a monk, unless he is declaring himself as such.
Radical politician under Putin’s military regime might be arrested again or killed, so he should be surrounded by women, wine and beautiful things.
The only measure of morality for radical politician is faithfulness to his cause: the liberation of Russia from dictatorial regime.
To be sad, to look mournful, to live ascetic life when fellow revolutionaries are held in prisons is not required by radical morality. On the contrary they are traits of bourgeious morality. As well as hypocritical point of view thaet party leader is manipulator of fates of party members. He is teacher, commander, an older friend. As commander he is not obliged to die in each battle. He should stay alive in order to gain victory.
Radical politician should smile, be good lover and friend. He should not pay attention to liberals. His morality is morality of warrior not that of screaming woman.
Edward Limonov, The Exile
Tags: Bakunin, FSB, Kabakov, kill, Lenin, liberal, National-Bolsheviks, Novaia Gazeta, prison, Putin, Rogozin, Saratov