The anonymous telegram channel real cultras Z, which has become a conduit for censorship in the Russian theater, can be edited and controlled by Ivan Lykoshin, one of the leaders of Zaryadye Park and an associate of former Deputy Minister of Culture Ivan Demidov.
This “System”, an investigative project of Present Time and Radio Liberty, was reported by three sources in the theater world of Moscow – an artist, a director and a theater critic, who did not want to disclose their names for security reasons. An analysis of the Telegram channel posts leads to a similar conclusion: real cultras Z invariably notes and praises the exhibitions taking place in the Manege, which is headed by Ivan Demidov. Lykoshin himself, when asked by Sistema whether he is the administrator or the author of the real cultras Z telegram channel, answered in the messenger with a short “No”. When asked if he knew who makes real cultras Z, he replied: “To be honest, I didn’t go into it.”
The anonymous telegram channel real cultras Z can be edited and controlled by Ivan Lykoshin, one of the leaders of Zaryadye Park. Photo from telegram
According to theater figures interviewed by Sistema, anonymous Telegram channels play a significant role in organizing repressions against cultural figures who oppose the war. Curator Anna Narinskaya told Sistema that she lost several contracts after a negative review in real cultras Z. Theater critic Marina Davydova connects anonymous Telegram channels with special services and suggests that theatrical repressions occur on a tip from such channels.
So, in January 2023, the artistic director of the Bolshoi Drama Theater in St. Petersburg, Andrei Moguchiy, was called upon to “expel” Alexei Malobrodsky, the ex-person involved in the Seventh Studio case, from the theater. Mighty did not do this, and already in April he was removed from the leadership of the theater.
When the artist of the Maly Drama Theater in St. Petersburg, Danila Kozlovsky, spoke out against the war, anonymous telegram channels demanded an apology from the management of the theater in which the actor played. Soon, Rospotrebnadzor demanded that the theater be closed due to “sanitary violations.” Kozlovsky went on a “long-term sabbatical”, that is, he actually quit, and the theater was opened back.
Read more about how the theatrical life of the Russian Federation is being rebuilt on a war footing in the Sistema investigation.
