Who are we fighting for?

I would like to say all is well but it's not. My play got a lot of publicity but few people came to see it. Indifference? Apathy? Mixed reviews? All those things and it is a great shame. Terrorism shouldn't be left to politicians. Yet it is. I thought not wanting to think about the unpleasant issues was a Russian thing but it's not. And the professionals who do their job well and knowing the risks keep exposing the ugly truth are killed. Like Anna.
I stand by everything i ever said and i can't help but feel sorry for this so called society.

Shamil, it's over

Shamil, It's over. I don't buy version that states that it was all 'an accident' for a second. He was an experienced fighter and a very cautious man so an idea of an accidental explosion is just ridiculous. It was most likely a well prepared operation, as FSB states, carried out for obvious political reasons right before G8 gathers in St Petersburg. He was kept alive in order to be eliminated at the 'right time'. Don't you just love big politics! The image of his head in rubbish bag is a pretty strong one i must say. The image that marks an end of an era in the Chechen war.

What IS going on???

So today 4 Russian diplomats or more likely FSB emplyees had their heads cut off in Iraq. The tornado of comments from every possible side somehow involved in this leads one to believe that very few participating parties know what they're doing, who they're siding with and, more importantly, what's the point of all this.
Putin sympathisers blamed in turn international terrorists (the most logical and obvious one) and Americans who allegedly set it up to get Russians to support them in Iraqi war. Ahmed Zakhaev came out and said it was the doing of FSB who this way present Putin with the card to play at the G8 in July; easy to picture the tragic look in his eyes: 'Russia is as much a victim of the world terror as you guys. Hold my hand George...'
It seemed many of those fighting for the freedom of Chechnya, in Russia and beyond it's borders, seemed proud of the such showing of support for their cause from an international community of radical Islamic extremists. Tears in their eyes, half whispering something about Islamic brotherhood. And, of course, those who actually carried out this whole thing said something about atrocities committed by the Russian government in Chechnya and how they don't like it and then went off and cut these guys' heads off.
Their confusion and chaos makes me scared.. but also hopeful because it shows a very real weakness, incompetence and insignificance in all of them. And aside from the very real deaths of those men and sorrow in their families, the whole thing looks like a stupid farce.

Flowers and Fashion

There is a lot of activity at the moment in Chechnya, Afganistan etc. Constant reports keep appearing of significant losses on coalition and Russian side as well as taliban and Chechen rebels expanding their control to further territories. It is unclear where it will go from here. Hmm. May be i should start writing about flowers and fashion.

Basaev at it again?

There is currently a new uprise in rebel activity in Chechnya and Dagestan at the moment which is disturbing. A number of questions arise: 1) is it genuine and rebels headed still by Shamil Basaev-Bin Laden of north Caucasus- as suggested are fighting back after a number of FSB conducted operations or fabricated and aimed to justify Russian activity in the region and create a feeling of instability (always a great political tool as we all know); 2) what will follow (presumably more bloodshed and not a joyous tea party for all); 3) uhh...personal.
Grey, grim, gruesome...

Independent Investigation Report - Dubrovka

The report of the independent investigation into Dubrovka theatre siege conducted by a group of survivors and victims' relatives is to be unveiled on Monday. The first question that arises is how much and what kind of information could they have dug up and what were their sources. It is unlikely any of the secret services would have willingly shared 'the truth' with them, so the report is likely to be another set of 'why', 'who' and 'how come' type questions as oppose to constructive account of who orchestrated the tragedy and what were their goals. Which is a shame as people who, i am sure, still feel nauseous imagening the last hours of their loved one's life-the hunger, the smell of urine, the numbness in the limbs, the gas, the gunfire, the blackout-deserve the truth. In this case, however, the truth will prove to be too much.

Mr. Udugov, chehen rebels' press mann (as strange as that may sound), came out again to warn Russians of new attacks on their own land. i feel these kind of statement are gradually getting less and less responce from people. He also stated that the main cause chechen rebels are fighting for is the declaration of shariate law in the state of chechnya, and it officially becoming an islamic state. He also added that common chechens (some of who are moderate muslims without any of the above 'ambitions') don't need to be consulted on this. Not extreme at all. And mark the bull's eyes.

The Death of Klinghoffer

Watched film/opera 'The death of Klinghoffer'. PLF members taking over a cruise ship in 1985, based on true events, and end up killing 1 hostage. A balanced take on the situation, the intercuts show documentary and non-documentary footage of Jews and Palestinians in exile. Some parts are powerful although overall i'm not a huge fan of a hardcore opera in a cinematographic format. Not my thing. What is interesting is that since 2001 the opera, the stage vesrion, hasn't been performed, while being a sell out show prior to that (touring mainly in the States). Gets me every time when i come across obvious examples of censorship in the US. It's 'freedom should know boundries' kind of thing.

You don't care? Really?

This is part of an interview with a London bombings survivor Rachel North from a new book by Milan Rai '7/7 : The London Bombings, Islam and the Iraq War'. Ms North was on the King's Cross train when the bomb exploded 7 feet away from her. The train was so packed with people that she was shielded from the blast. I keep hearing from people, both Muslim and non-Muslim, some i even consider to be rather intellegent, that people don't care why those attacks happen and how they could have been prevented. Really? You guys don't care/ How about you'll be inviting me to your brother's funeral next time. And how about it would be your daughter missing her leg from knee down. And how about it would be you who won't be able to pee on his own as a result of post traumatic stress let alone go to work.

I hear Nord Ost and Beslan are the two most frightening topics for the Russian president. His two biggest nightmares. Not in a sense that he loses sleep over it because i'm sure he doesn't (not the kind) but in a sense that he doesn't want these subjects to ever be raised again as they give him that unpleasant, as kids say 'yucky' feeling. Which is hardly surprising. They are the most visible blood stains on his white shirt of a reputation. And as we know even if you try to wash the blood out it still leaves a pretty ugly yellowish stain.

Chess king Mr Kasparov has a very interesting political site Kasparov.ru only in Russian sadly. On it he and his allies are viciously outspoken and very antiPutin and his plan to resurrect Stalinism (or establish 'Putinism') and drown any hopes for a bright democratic future. The question remains: can Russia do Democracy? Can it really? Hmm.

Impressed...

French youths are fighting. Unpoluted by reality TV and not obsessed with Paris Hilton (lifestyle) they have a firm grasp of reality. Hats off.

In Your Hands

In Your Hands, By N. Pelevine. The play that was 'blocked' in Moscow. The theatre where the rehearsals were taking place was advised not to go through with the project. The poor theatre, heavily dependent on govenment funding, was left no choice...

In Your Hands, the political drama, based loosely on the events in Moscow in 2002, the hostage taking crisis in a theatre is set to open in London on the September 11th 2006. The play focuses on two women - a hostage and a hostage taker. Yes, there are differences between them. Cashmire sweater and a Saudi dress. Can you think of anything else?

War and Peace. Yes, by Leo

Theatre, it's power. The word power can be used in a positive sense.

The shot from War and Peace-the beginning by Moscow's Piotr Fomenko, a true genius.

Hello and welcome to..well..you'll see

Well, here it is. Good evening fun and peace loving friends. Nothing more i love than a good discussion.
Are you into politics are you wise people who stay away from it, and prefer dog walking masturbation and ugly rumours about your neighbours?