Occupied Donbass "to the lantern" ordinary Russians, just like the post-Soviet countries of Central Asia, but the Crimea - "this is a special story".
This in an interview with the "Observer" told a Russian and American historian, art and culture theorist, philosopher, film critic, philologist, professor of New York University Mikhail Yampolsky.
Answering the question about the "imperialism" of Russian citizens, he remarked: "The Crimea is a special story, because Crimea is a personal myth of many Russians. This is a paradise, this is childhood, this is Koktebel, it's Chekhov, Voloshin and so on. ".
At the same time, Yampolsky assured that the occupation of Donbas "does not cause the slightest enthusiasm and interest" among Russians. "Nobody needs Gorlovka, waste pits, mines ... Everyone really is up to the lantern," he said..
The expert also drew attention to the fact that the "imperialism" of Russians is uneven. So, "there is no special imperialism in relation to Central Asia - all absolutely do not care about these Asian republics, no one wants them back. It does not even exist in relation to the Caucasus, although they have dug out part of Georgia. Armenia, Azerbaijan do not care about anyone, although Baku has been a part of Russia for a long time, "he said..
According to Yampolsky, "the idea of ??statehood, which is embodied in a strong leader, has a much greater significance for Russians than imperialism. Although I think that the territorial immensity of Russia is very important for them.
Russia has always thought of itself in the category of maps geographically - people look at their huge country and somehow identify themselves with it ".
The first part of the interview with Mikhail Yampolsky read here.
As the "Observer" wrote, Mikhail Yampolsky earlier said: today's regime in Russia is in an intermediate state between the mobilization and stagnation states; The regime, trying to maintain stability, simultaneously at the same time undermines it.
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