Season of Greetings in 2002 started for me on December 24, 2002, after breakfast time. I was in jail in Saratov, during my trial. Warden have opened first door to my jail cell and have said, “Savenko [Limonov's real name — Ed.], be ready for going out, with your belongings!” And he closed the door. Me and my cellmate Pavel Rybkin started to pack my belongings. I was thinking on wide range of questions, such as, “Why? Where are they going to transfer me?” “For what reason they are decided to transfer me after only two weeks’ confinement in cell 29, Prison Number 2 of Saratov Region?” I didn’t have answers to these questions.
Prison No.2 was located inside of Camp No.2 near a town called Engels, of Saratov Region. (Once upon a time Engels was a capital of Autonomous Republic of Germans-On-The-Volga.) Regime of Camp No.2 was “severe”, Prison No.2 was also prison of “strict regime”, so it was against the law to transfer me there in the first place. As I was undergoing judicial process, was on trial, not yet sentenced, so I was supposed to be held in a regular jail. As to Prison No.2 it was created in order to break high ranking criminals. Cell Number 39 was previously occupied by known “Godfather” named Petrukha; also by the former head of the administration of Balakovo (town in the south of the Saratov region); and other criminal celebrities. However celebrated, cell was about six square meters, of which 1 square meter was occupied by public style stinking toilet. Small slot of window was covered by scraps of metal. Table and two benches were made of steel. Very unpleasant place, even by Russian prison standards.
In the afternoon July 28 my phone burst with journalists’ calls. The Federal registration service of the Ministry of Justice and certain “Russian culture protection” proved to have threatened with legal liability the mass media, which would mention the NBP or the NBP officials. They say the NBP was liquidated in summer 2005 and wasn’t later registered by the Ministry of Justice. Journalists asked me to comment on that.
The definition “the state moronity”was my simplest explanation. I recalled history, I had to go deep, to possessed Roman Caesars, but even there I didn’t find any data about a prohibition to mention an insurgent tribe or a political organization. Neither Kaligula, nor Nero let themselves to commit such a foolishness. The only place, where the Ferderal registration service and “Russian culture protection” would be pertinent, is a play by Gogol or those of the Theater of the Absurd (Ionesko and Bekket, for example) and texts by Daniil Harms. That’s all. No, “1984″ by Oruell too.
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?
I know that Kremlin is populated by bloody bastards, but I was surprised by Khodorkovski and Lebedev’s sentences. I thought that both will get some five years each, then they will be out of camps after three years. But eight, no, I didn’t expect it?
Then, both businesmen were send to serve their sentences to the place — to such places?
part two of the eXile interview with Eduard Limonov
— To me, His Butler’s Story is one of your best books. One of the reasons I was shocked when I first read it was that somehow you managed to describe what Jenny, an ordinary American of the time, was like. I read that and looked around at the rest of American literature and nobody repeated it. I always wondered what made it so hard to Americans to describe carefully what was happening. You needed to go to a Russian…
— Probably really because I was new and fresh from the other world. What I saw was probably banality for the Americans. And I came from a completely different social situation. And I had some kind of a good eye… (more…)
My personal worst moment of the year 2003 was late afternoon January 31st. At Saratov’s Districts Court, public prosecutor Colonel Verbin demanded for me quarter of century of imprisonment. Ten years of imprisonment for allegedly planning terrorist attacks on territory of Kazakhstan, 4 years for preparation to organize outlawed armed formations, 8 years for a purchase of Kalashnikovs and 3 years for a call to overthrow the Government of Russian Federation. Exactly 25 years demanded Verbin, that tall and skinny as a match colonel, wearing blue uniform of Prosecutor.
But “by the way of partial reduction” merciful and compassionate Russian Justice, personified by colonel, demanded for me “only” 14 years of imprisonment in the camp of “severe regime.” It was worstiest day of 2003. But going to court on February 4, just a few days later, early in the morning I saw on television face of my wife, Natasha. Television said that my wife have died as a saint during her sleep at night from 2 to 3rd February. Then, until the day of April 15, I have lived under the heavy burden of 14 years. On April 15 I was miraculously sentenced to 4 years. I know, I wrote about that, but anyway, it was my worst season of life. (more…)
“Advokat Belyak” (”The lawyer Belyak”) - the Bullet. Song on Edward Limonov’s verses. Shots from process over leader NBP Edward Limonov and nazbols Sergey Aksionov, Vladimir Pentiljuk, Nina Silina in court of the city Saratov. Limonov and nazbols were accused of purchase of the weapon and attempt of overthrow of the power in the totalitarian state Kazakhstan. Studio AIR clip.
SARATOV, Volga Region — Writer Eduard Limonov has never been one to keep his thoughts to himself, especially when it comes to “the evil force called The System.”
Under communism, Limonov’s anti-Soviet views got him expelled from the country. When he returned to Russia in the mid-1990s after 20 years abroad, he headed up a fringe ultranationalist movement and railed against the new regime in the Kremlin, preaching extremism and social justice “by any means necessary.” (more…)
— To me, His Butler’s Story is one of your best books. One of the reasons I was shocked when I first read it was that somehow you managed to describe what Jenny, an ordinary American of the time, was like. I read that and looked around at the rest of American literature and nobody repeated it. I always wondered what made it so hard to Americans to describe carefully what was happening. You needed to go to a Russian…
SARATOV, Volga Region — Writer Eduard Limonov has never been one to keep his thoughts to himself, especially when it comes to “the evil force called The System.”