The heads of Russian theaters supported the chairman of the Union of Theater Workers of the Russian Federation, Alexander Kalyagin, who criticized the draft law of the Ministry of Culture on "strengthening traditional values." They insist that the proposed document cannot have a positive impact on society and artists.

An extra law

“It seems to us that the proposed draft decree cannot positively affect society and citizens, scientists, teachers, and artists. Its adoption will in no way contribute to the preservation and enhancement of spiritual and moral values, the upbringing of patriotism and love for our Motherland. We subscribe to the fact that the current legal acts are quite sufficient to regulate this sphere of public relations, ”the theater directors wrote in a letter published on Thursday on the website of the STD RF.

The letter, among others, was signed by Konstantin Khabensky, artistic director of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater, Konstantin Raikin, artistic director of the Satyricon, Konstantin Bogomolov, artistic director of the Malaya Bronnaya Theater, and Irina Apeksimova, director of the Taganka Theater. They also "expressed support" for Kalyagin's opinion.

They clarified that the draft presidential decree "On Approving the Fundamentals of State Policy for the Preservation and Strengthening of Traditional Russian Spiritual and Moral Values" was posted on the government website with information about the upcoming regulatory legal acts. A public discussion is being held there, which will end on February 4. Theatrical artistic directors called on all those who are not indifferent to express their opinion on the bill.

Main claims

Theatrical figures were most outraged by the bill that, according to it, the cultural and educational sphere will be taken under additional control, and an appropriate coordinating body will be created.

“State support for events in the cultural and educational sphere needs additional control for maximum compliance with the goals of state policy in the field of traditional values,” the text of the document says.

In addition, the authors of the bill see “the creation of an interagency coordination mechanism” as a “condition for the successful implementation of state policy in the field of traditional values”, which implies the creation of an “interdepartmental coordination body”.

Among his powers will be the development of indicators by which the development of "traditional spiritual and moral values" will be assessed. He will also be able to conduct examinations of documents and events for compliance with values. And it will be able to identify and take measures against structures and persons "damaging the national interests of the Russian Federation."

The work of the new body will also require additional funding from the federal budget.

“Control, control, control!”

“Wow! Lived up! Control, control, control! Friends! We've been through it all. As can be seen from the text of the project: everything that is not related to the preservation of traditional values ​​is not necessary, moreover, it is forbidden. How will culture develop then? How, then, can you effectively convey your traditional values ​​and enhance Russia's role in the world without the constant development of the artistic language? And how, then, with the control that is being prepared, or simply speaking, censorship (prohibited, I remind you, by our Constitution), will a creative experiment be carried out? - Kalyagin was indignant, his letter is available on the website of the STD RF.

He is sure that the current norms "sufficiently regulate the preservation of traditional values ​​and do not require additional strengthening at all."

“And suddenly, literally, for no apparent reason, we are offered a draft of a new document, in which its authors (by the way, it would be nice to know them) directly and unequivocally state support for culture and education (attention!) is impossible without establishing additional control,” complains the chairman of the Union of Theater Workers of the Russian Federation.

It is also “not at all clear to him how the current Fundamentals of State Cultural Policy and the proposed document will be related.” Both laws require the presence of a coordinating body. At the same time, it is not explained how they will coexist - whether in parallel, which of them will be more important.

“It feels weird and a little scary. And the main question: who needs all this? Kalyagin wrote.

He also proposed to develop a strategy for the preservation and strengthening of traditional Russian spiritual and moral values. In his opinion, then a "new coordinating body" would not be needed.

bbabo.Net