Maksim Kurnikov

Russian journalist, leading editor of the Russian department of German media Bild, head of the online media “Echo”, Ekaterina Shulman’s co-host and co-author of the award-winning documentary “Famine”, Maksim Kurnikov, was interviewed by the Russian Canadian Democratic Alliance (RCDA).

Interview and photo by
Albina Klimenko

NYC, 02.14.2024

Life in Berlin, Germany

We continue to live in the same information bubble. We communicate with lots of people live, not by Zoom or Skype. Berlin has become a hub for us (not only for us but also for many media). On top of that, people are always coming to Berlin, including from Russia.

Therefore, I do not feel that much has changed for me; I do not feel that I am “there.” I don’t live a Berliner life — I wake up and read news from Russia.

Since the war began, I have not focused on personal plans. It’s been such a terrible event that I don’t care now what plans I used to have.

I had no plan to leave; it was a spontaneous decision. Roughly speaking, our YouTube channel was shut down in the morning, and by that same night, I had already left.

I only consider the possibilities that will allow me to carry out the mission that I have taken. I will go wherever I have to, where there is an opportunity to live now, where I can work efficiently, and that’s it.

Years before leaving Russia

In recent years, have you had a feeling of growing collapse in Russia?

Yes, of course. For me, it has been precisely since 2014; for some, it has been even earlier. My first warning sign came in 2012 with the adoption of the Dima Yakovlev law. Then I realized that these are natural-born cannibals—the real ones.

And all is clear about Crimea. Crimea marked the start of a dangerous game with borders, one that will ultimately destroy everything. What even is the Russian Federation at this point? Where are the borders of the Russian Federation?

Filters

How do you keep yourself mentally sane with your work?

Do you have any filters to work with information?

No. No. I am self-destructive.

As far as I know, many journalists go to psychotherapists.

Many of my colleagues say that it helps them.

I haven’t gotten there yet.

Russian community
in Berlin

As in many places, it is divided into waves:

those who left in the late 70s – early 90s;

those who left later;

those who left after Crimea;

those who left now.

Maybe there was some jealousy at first towards the newly arriving, but then it all seemed to stabilize. People who come to our events are very positive.

We have never had any conflicts or incidents. These are people who hear and understand each other.

What are you lacking at the moment?

Money to run media.

We are also missing freedom of speech in Russia.

We have to think of those who are inside Russia in order not to do any harm to them.

Interview

Would you like to interview Putin and Kadyrov? Or would that be like giving a platform to promote murderers?

Of course, I would—a real interview. Well, we understand that it is impossible, but interviews should be conducted with everyone.

I can’t say right away what I would ask them; I’ll have to prepare very well. It might be possible, for example, to catch them lying and show the real cost of their statements.

I will remind you that Kadyrov gave an interview to Anna Politkovskaya.

After that, he killed her. That is precisely because she demonstrated him to be a complete idiot. Sorry.

She showed his true value indeed. Of course, such interviews are necessary.

Political prisoners

Do you write to any political prisoners? Who are these people?

Yes, I do. They are people I know in person. Unfortunately, one of them was transferred to a place where emails are not allowed. But it is very important to keep writing letters. Please do!

“FAMiNE” movie

Why is it so important to show it? Is it relevant now?

I think it is always relevant.

At least until this part of our history has settled in society as an important part of our past.

Because let’s face it, most people do not know about this famine.

And, of course, we must do everything so that this becomes part of our understanding for our self-recovery – understanding that this really happened.

Canada

What is Canada to you?

How does it stand out from other countries?

This is a country that showed a less straightforward path to democracy. For example, the United States, when it separated from the British Empire and fought a war for independence, created the most modern state at that time, a democratic state. This goal was literally declared.

Canada remained part of the empire and was governed as before. But paradoxically, slavery was abolished in Canada earlier.

Although it seemed that there was such a modern, cool new state, it should be the most advanced everywhere, but it works differently.

And Canada, which did not create the most modern ways of governing the territory, suddenly turned out to be a place where black Americans fled to save themselves from slavery.

And this is what truly inspires me. That yes, sometimes it turns out that you seem to be lagging behind, but somehow, it leads to development through unknown means.

People in Russia

What trends can you observe, how did the war affect people?

What has changed in the attitude to the war and to life within the country?

Let’s note that the situation in Russia has changed quite significantly.

Both authorities and many citizens (many citizens don’t do it on purpose; they don’t want to go crazy ) play the game of “ok, there is a war going on somewhere, but in general, nothing has changed.”

One of my friends wrote from Russia: “If you come back, you walk down the street and don’t understand at all that there is a war going on.

The feeling of some kind of 2012: nightclubs, bars, everything is fine.”

And he tells me all this literally the next day after the “naked party”.

A week later, I asked him: “Well?!”

And he wrote simply, “I was wrong.”

In fact, this story shows that normal life is now in the past. But everyone will say, “It’s fine, it’s okay,” until something happens that even they can’t deny.

RCDA

How can one be civically active outside his own country?

Is it possible to really influence what is happening in Russia while in Canada?

Such activity affects both what is happening in Russia and what is happening within the community itself.

For example, for media such as “Echo”, what functions do they perform now?

The first is to be a bridge between citizens who stayed inside the country and those who left.

It is important for those in Russia to receive non-biased information and for those who left to know what’s going on in Russia.

Another function that we have is to tell Western media and Western elites about what’s going on inside Russia and inside the Russian community abroad.

Take, for example, the story of Maria Kartasheva, who was not given a passport. The Russian-language media were the first to write about this. The story began circulating. And this gave a result. On top of that, all manifestations abroad provide a feeling to Russians that they have not been forgotten, they are remembered. This is definitely important. This will not change the situation here and now, but citizens need to speak out.

Dear citizens, please do speak! You have to!

Otherwise you will not be heard.

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