Posted on May 19, 2011 - by Venik
Artemy Troitsky defamation case is a tale of poodles and peasants | Natalia Antonova
Rock star Vadim Samoylov is taking a critic to court – highlighting the conflict between power and free speech in Russia
The charismatic Russian rock critic Artemy Troitsky is going to court for doing what he does best – engaging in criticism. His case is disturbing, because it highlights the many problems of how justice and class operate in Russia.
Troitsky’s alleged crime? He called the rock musician Vadim Samoylov a “trained poodle for Surkov” (Vladislav Surkov is the first deputy chief of staff to the Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev). Samoylov decided that he was slandered and is dragging Troitsky to court. Why did Troitsky commit this unthinkable act? Apparently, it has something to do with the fact that Samoylov is friendly with star politicians in the Kremlin.
Both Samoylov and Troitsky are talented people on opposite sides of the political barricades in Russia, and should be able to trade insults at will. This is how informal debate ought to work.
I doubt that Samoylov’s delicate feelings were insulted – he’s a grown man in his 40s, with a great career (besides his involvement with rock band Agata Kristi, Samoylov has had a hand in producing such glorious Russian acts as Chicherina and Smyslovye Gallyutsinatsii) and a reputation for charitable acts. No, something else is at work here – the ridiculous idea that those close to the political establishment should somehow be “above” criticism, because criticism of power is unseemly and dangerous.
We’ve seen it all before. There’s the ongoing scandal surrounding the building of a toll road through Khimki forest outside of Moscow, for example. The toll road is badly needed, but environmentalists point out that it shouldn’t have to threaten trees and wildlife. Various people have been working to save Khimki forest from bulldozers, including Troitsky himself. Many of those people – activists, ecologists and journalists – have been threatened and assaulted. One of the journalists, Mikhail Beketov, was beaten so viciously in 2008 that he was left brain damaged and is now confined to a wheelchair.
Beketov had the temerity to accuse the mayor of Khimki, Vladimir Strelchenko, of being involved in the campaign of intimidation and assault that sought to silence critics of the road, including Beketov himself. Strelchenko sued for slander. Beketov, who cannot speak as the result of his horrific injuries, was dragged through the courts on his wheelchair. He was found guilty, although that verdict was overturned last December. The Russian journalists’ union had a field day, congratulating Strelchenko on his “manliness” and “honour”, noting how truly brave one must be to publicly go after an assault survivor whose attackers have never been found.
Photos of the judge who handed down the guilty verdict in the Beketov case made their rounds on the internet. “He’s a fancy judge for fancy overlords,” LiveJournal users quipped. This highlights an important point – the justice system caters almost exclusively to the rich and powerful. One doesn’t even need to bribe a Russian court in order to win. Political connections will go further than money.
In comparison to the shame and tragedy surrounding the Beketov case, the “poodle” incident between Troitsky and Samoylov is frivolous, but it does underscore an important point about the conflict between power and free speech in Russia. There is a simple assumption that in Russian society there are “boyars” (or lords) and there are peasants, and peasants cannot be allowed to run around and criticise the boyars. Even someone as prominent as Troitsky is probably a peasant in the eyes of Samoylov, simply by virtue of not having nearly enough powerful friends. It’s an issue of political feudalism.
Is there a legal basis for Samoylov’s accusation against Troitsky? I suppose that had Troitsky called Samoylov a “poodle-fucker” the lawyers might cry, “See? He’s accused him of bestiality!” in the courtroom. Even so, I can’t imagine a normal judge doing anything but laugh at this. A judge who is eager to please a boyar, on the other hand, might just play along.
The hearing has been moved to 1 June, to a different court currently tasked with looking into another defamation case, this one involving a human rights campaigner and the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov. Troitsky’s lawyer says he is pleased with the decision to move the hearing. My fingers are crossed.
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