The Russian government-sponsored congress was held under the slogan “Literary translation as a tool of cultural diplomacy” and an address was made by Putin’s Special Representative for International Cultural Relations Mikhail Shvidkoy. 130 participants from 35 countries, including Europe, attended. From Latvia – poet, writer, translator and publisher Vija Laganovska and poet, writer, and translator Sergejs Moreino.
“The first reaction – we were shocked when we found out, because obviously nobody sent them there,” says Arno Jundze, President of the Writers’ Union.
“The fact that writers would do something like that, well, it was really a surprise. Both for the board and for everyone else who finds out about this. Well, what can I say… If someone likes to get into a smelly substance and roll in it, well – that’s what happened here, in my opinion, and it’s a pity.”
Moreino is described as an important disseminator of Latvian literature among Russian-speaking readers. However, after his trip to Moscow, the State Culture Capital Foundation decided to stop the cooperation and the scholarship.
“He went to Russia, a country that actually murders its neighbors and threatens everyone else with its atomic bomb, and causes psychosis all over the world. We believe that these are incompatible things. We cannot finance activities for cooperation with Russia in any way. Either you cooperate with one or the other, but you have to make up your minds,” says Edgars Vērpe, Director of the State Culture Capital Foundation.
The explanations heard from both were” “childish”, said the Writers’ Union, and did not erase the suspicion that the trip was financed by an aggressor state.
Therefore, answers are awaited from the state authorities, including the security services, says Arno Jundze: “Something needs to be said by the people who can look at the accounts and see whether any money has come from Russia or not.”
Sergejs Moreino did not respond to LTV’s requests for contact. Vija Laganovska replied in a text message. “I have expressed my opinion to the Writers’ Union. I am against the war. Good and bad people live in all countries. I have nothing more to say in this regard.”
Whether the two members should be expelled from the ranks will be decided by a meeting of the Writers’ Union representatives, scheduled for March, after all the facts have been gathered.
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