Western stars, anti-war rappers, political parodies: Russian web project revisits ‘lost TV’

Sting sing “I hope Russians love their children too,” said a Moscow TV studio. Cast By Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Interviews with Ukrainian politicians. Political satire He appeared on one of the top comedy shows in the country.

In today’s Russia, isolated from the West since the invasion of Ukraine and under tight Kremlin control, these events would not be shown on television, but just a few years ago they were.

One small online project seeks to revive the relative freedom of pre-war Russian television by posting short, eye-catching clips from TV broadcasts from the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.

“The TV we lost”: that’s the purpose of this project A Choto Po TV With around 270,000 followers on Instagram, “What’s on TV?” describes itself as:

“I decided to start the channel because I wanted to show the difference between TV from, say, the 1990s or 2000s and today, so that everyone can see the difference,” Alexander, 38, founder of A Chto Po TV, told The Moscow Times.

In many ways, the project also shows a lost country.

“I want people to watch these videos and think about why this happened and how we were defeated. And why television today has become a mouthpiece for propaganda,” he added, asking not to use his surname because of his opposition position.

In recent years, the Kremlin has stepped up its push for a narrative of Russian nationalism, anti-Western sentiment and “traditional values” through state TV, its main news channel. sauce For roughly two-thirds of Russians.

Since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian state television has justified the war by claiming that the Kremlin had “no choice” but to invade, while commentators and hosts have claimed that President Volodymyr Zelensky is a drug addict and portrayed the war as the “liberation” of Ukrainians from the “Nazi” regime in Kiev.

Topo TV will broadcast dramatically different television programmes showcasing the many personalities whose lives and careers have changed dramatically since the invasion.

One of the videos posted by the project is a 2013 video of American actor Elijah Wood. exterior He made the remarks on “Vecherniy Urgant” (Evening Urgant), a popular late-night talk show on Channel 1, the country’s main state-run broadcaster.

Večerní Urgant has not been on the air since its host Ivan Urgant left the show in February 2022. Expressed Against the war with Ukraine. Channel Said The show was canceled due to scheduling issues.

In this 2003 clip, Novaya Gazeta reporter Anna Politkovskaya talks on air with TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov. Known for her reporting from Chechnya, Politkovskaya was assassinated on President Vladimir Putin’s birthday in 2006. Today, Solovyov is a leading propagandist and vocal cheerleader for the Ukrainian war.

another clip The broadcast of the prestigious 2022 Golden Mask Theatre Awards by the Kultura TV channel is being shown. Among the winners is playwright Svetlana Petrychuk’s play “The Brave Falcon Finist”.

Currently, Petrychuk and director Evgenia Berkovich are on trial for “justifying terrorism” with the play, which tells the story of a Russian woman who falls in love with an Islamic State fighter in Syria, and have been added to Russia’s “terrorists and extremists” list.

Many artists and singers who were banned from performing in Russia and blacklisted from television for their anti-war views can still be seen in the clip posted by A Chto Po TV. Ilya Lagutenko Russian rapper from the rock band “Mumi Troll” Noise MC poets Vera Poroskova.

The project also posts clips from cartoons, films and advertisements from the 1990s, as well as old interviews with politicians, including the late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

Alexander said that although he doesn’t watch current Russian television, his knowledge of the media landscape helps him run the project.

“I’m a spectator. I’ve always been on the other side of the screen,” says Alexander, who was originally an engineer and later took a course in video editing.

“But I watched a lot of TV as a kid and I think my expertise comes in handy,” he said, adding that the project was also inspired by documentaries made from archive footage by renowned British film director Adam Curtis.

Alexander, like thousands of Russians, left the country after the invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, he launched A Chto Po TV from Georgia, a popular base for Russian exiles, including exiled journalists.

The Russian authorities I was blocked More than 130 media outlets have been banned since the start of the war, when independent reporting and criticism of the invasion of Ukraine was banned.

According to the survey, television remains the main source of information for at least 65 percent of Russians, with the figure rising to 85 percent among older adults. Published The independent polling firm Levada released the figures last month.

Last week on Channel One Ran A section depicting Russian troops advancing on the Ukrainian front line, Description Russian soldiers as “defenders” ask He called on viewers to donate to military equipment.

Channel One presenter Dmitry Kiselyov, who frequently mentions the possibility of nuclear war on air, started his news show last month with a nuclear threat.

“There is a growing question in the West: will Russia use nuclear weapons? The answer is yes, but under what conditions?” Kiselyov said. Asked During the Sunday primetime program “Vesti Nedeli” (“Weekly News”).

But comments posted to the A Chto Po TV video suggest that many Russians are nostalgic for the days when their country gave a platform to politically independent musicians and Western celebrities.

“This clip reminds me of my carefree youth,” Yana Minaeva, a follower of A Chto Po TV, commented under a clip from a 2009 TV concert.

“A place without the horrors we’re experiencing right now.”