Russia (bbabo.net), - Exactly 30 years ago, on December 25, 1991, the great Soviet empire ended symbolically: a red banner with a hammer and sickle was lowered at 19:35. At 19.45, the tricolor soared over the Kremlin as a symbol of the new Russia.

Someone's very space of life has collapsed: the country in which they were born has disappeared. And today there are many people who are convinced: by lowering the red flag, they lowered the most precious thing for a nickel - the country's independence, its power and culture, free education and health care. And for some, on the contrary, this is - without fanfare and timpani - a breakthrough into the future, a businesslike passage to decisive action instead of chatter - to the release of prices, the Gaidar government, a market economy, full counters and an open world. As great politicians say, those who do not regret the collapse of the USSR have no heart, but those who want to restore it have no head.

At the call of our hearts, we decided to find out where the last banner of the great empire is now: we wrote to the State Archives of the Russian Federation, to the Yeltsin Center, called the Museum of Contemporary History of Russia ... We even despaired: a large acting politician of those times made it clear: look in someone's private collection ... After an almost detective search, the answer was found at the director of the State Historical Museum, Alexei Levykin.

And here we have a huge red flag with a hammer and sickle applique in the upper corner. A witness to the tragic end of a strong state, frayed in a strong wind from the Moskva River ...

Alexey Konstantinovich, history does not forgive a careless attitude to details. Therefore, clarify when and how the flag got to you? Is this the same flag from historical photos taken on December 25 at 19.35?

Alexey Levykin: Two flags were lowered that evening. The first fluttered over the first building of the Kremlin, over the residence of the presidents of the USSR and the RSFSR. It was he who was captured by the photographers. And the second one was above the building of the Council of Ministers. This is the 14th building, which no longer exists.

It is now legislatively spelled out everything about the banner: the size, and the status, and the situations when it is raised. Let's say the presidential standard - only if the president is in the Grand Kremlin Palace.

And 30 years ago, there were no such rules. The flag experienced very heavy loads: well, imagine, snow, rain, harsh winds from the river. Therefore, there was a supply of flags. In any case, there are two of them in the Historical Museum. The one you see is the same symbolic one. It was handed over to us in March 1992. There is also an official document - an act of transfer from the Kremlin Affairs Directorate, which was responsible for all economic activities on its territory. And another banner entered the museum a little later - when the fund of the Central Museum of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin joined the State Historical Museum as a department. This flag is stored there. So we have two banners from the flagpoles of the Kremlin.

On December 25, 1991, the USSR ended its existence with the descent of the flag. At that time, many had a feeling of farewell to their homeland, similar to that experienced by the white emigrants leaving Russia. What do you remember?

Alexey Levykin: For me, those events today are a tragedy and a disaster. I still feel like a resident of a huge country that does not end with the borders of modern Russia. And the citizens of the former Soviet republics are closer to me than other foreigners. I disagree with the position that the Soviet Union was doomed and falling apart for many years. The responsibility for the collapse lies with the country's leadership. As a historian, I am well aware of what individuals in history are capable of. And the Soviet Union has proved its resilience through years of terrible trials.

In which row of the State Historical Museum exhibits would you put the flag of the USSR?

Alexey Levykin: The Historical Museum was created in order to collect monuments that are associated with the main themes of the development of our country and state. We keep testimonies of great eras that have existed and disappeared. And if we talk about the flag, then the row will be like this. The famous goldsmith of Vladimir Saint - we can say that this is his only lifetime portrait. The pen of Alexander II, which signed the decision on the release of the peasants. Victory banners of 1812. Admiral Kornilov's overcoat, stained with his blood. Personal belongings of Panfilov and Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya. It is to this level of museum relics that I would attribute this banner - a symbol of a huge power that continues to influence the life of the whole world, even disappearing from the world map.

Many said that the USSR flag from the Kremlin was lost somewhere in private hands ...

Alexey Levykin: He is in front of you. The main thing is that they kept the flag. And I was very pleased to see my father's signature on the transfer act - at that time he was the director of the State Historical Museum. I think that it was necessary to go to the very top in the Kremlin in order to receive this monument for safekeeping.

Where was the flag three months before the State Historical Museum?

Alexey Levykin: There are back rooms in the Kremlin Administration. What is the size of the panel? It is huge, the keeper of the fund of fabrics said that it was difficult to place it even on the table for unrolling carpets.

Alexey Levykin: Three by six meters. Heavyweight artificial silk.

Are there special storage technologies?

Alexey Levykin: We are now in a very technological space. There are strict storage rules here. And above all - the temperature and humidity conditions. Constant dust removal and cleaning of premises. Light control. Any fabric fades, synthetics - less, but still, for a long time, the flag cannot be under a large number of lamps. We have special wooden shafts on which such huge exhibits (banners, flags, carpets, tapestries) are wound and stored in a horizontal position.

Alexey Konstantinovich, looking at this huge panel, to be honest, you are in awe of the proximity of such a story. Why is the flag in the repository and not in the current exhibition?

Alexey Levykin: This is a difficult question. According to the rules, we cannot hang such museum exhibits. We usually show them on a flat display case. You can imagine how big it should be. Moreover, it needs a special glass with a certain degree of light reflection.

There are two flags in the Historical Museum. Including the symbolic one. Submitted to us in March 1992

A certain level of inclination is also required. Optimally - no more than 30 degrees. The limit is 45. Therefore, such items as costumes, banners, sewing, church vestments cannot be on display for a long time. Usually they are exhibited for a short time and returned to funds, where their condition is monitored and restoration work is carried out.

Are there any plans to show the flag to the people? Until now, no one knew where he was.

Alexey Levykin: We are starting to prepare an exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the USSR. We will think about how to demonstrate this unique exhibit to visitors. But in order to show the history of the entire dramatic and tragic XX century, we need spaces. And, as you can see, we have exhibits.

An old anecdote from Yuri Nikulin on the topic of the day

Document

Declaration in connection with the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States of December 26, 1991 No. 142-N

Relying on will , expressed by the highest state bodies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan and Ukraine on the establishment of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Council of the Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR states that with the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the USSR as a state and subject of international law ceases to exist.

The Council of Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR appeals to the heads of the Independent States with a proposal to consider the following issues:

- on the succession of the USSR and the union bodies of state power and administration in connection with the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States;

- on the creation of an inter-parliamentary body of the Commonwealth with the aim of preserving a single legal, economic, humanitarian and environmental space on the territories of the member states of the Commonwealth;

- on the ratification, implementation and denunciation of international treaties concluded by the USSR prior to the formation of the Commonwealth.

The Council of Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR calls on the highest representative bodies of state power and the heads of state members of the Commonwealth to take all measures in their power to ensure the rights and freedoms of citizens, regardless of their nationality, in accordance with the Declaration of Human Rights and Freedoms, peaceful coexistence of the peoples of the Commonwealth, and their democratic development. statehood, good-neighborly relations and cooperation with states and peoples of the world community, unswerving fulfillment of international obligations arising from treaties and agreements of the USSR.

Chairman of the Council of Republics of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR A. Alimzhanov

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