Cultural figures do not share their points of view on the complicated Caucasian situation very often. Perhaps this is because they treat these issues in a more cautious and thoughtful manner than politicians. Their opinions may be less competent, but they are definitely more sincere. Oleg Khabalov, People’s Artist of Russia and North Ossetia, director and actor of the Romen Theatre in Moscow, also well known for his appearances in various films, gives an interview to VK.
- Information from official sources indicates that there is no dialogue at all between Georgians and Ossetians, or at least between their political figures. In reality, however, people still share the same interests and problems. They continue to communicate. What’s your attitude towards the problem?
- I’m glad that two peoples who have been close neighbours for thousands of years have seen each other at last. The war left scars, but time heals everything, and now there’s almost no bitterness between us. I’ve spent my vacations in Antalia, spent time with Georgians and we had no problems with communication. Peoples never wage war against each other, only the politicians do. I often call my friends in Tbilisi and there are no misunderstandings. Some of us renounced decorations – I think these were political acts, like Mark Zakharov, director of the Lenkom Theatre, burning his party card in front of the cameras. These are political demonstrations. Ordinary people often have mixed marriages between Georgians and Ossetians and so on.
- But they say that the war of 2008 has deepened the chasm between the two peoples…
- Only two years have passed but our peoples are already getting on pretty well. The war deepened the chasm between the political figures, and they will keep deepening it because it is profitable. And the greater the confrontation, the more important some of them will feel themselves. But time will heal everything. During the Days of Independence celebrations our TV showed that Georgians stayed in South Ossetia, no one harmed them, while Ossetians are living peacefully in Georgia.
- Do your Georgian and Ossetian colleagues perform a mediatory role, or maybe some of them only aggravate the state of affairs?
- Both. But we can’t deny that there’s magnificent Georgian theatre and cinema. ‘Repentance’ is a brilliant film! I met some young Georgian actors at the ‘Mosfilm’ studios in Moscow recently and no one said a single ill word to them. And there are a lot of Georgian performers on our stage.
- Do you have any friends or pals among Georgian actors?
- Of course! Gogi Kavtaradze and I co-starred in two films. In ‘Red Diplomat’ he played Yenukidze, and I played Kamo. And then again we met in the ‘Return of Budulay’. We are still good friends. A lot of good actors and directors tried to play politics some time ago, but they understood pretty quickly that these games are not for artists, not for our work and our lives. Our work should be that of consolidation. I still remember all the brilliant plays of Georgian theatre – how can I exclude them from my memory, my life?!
- Could you name some figures who embody Georgia and Ossetia?
- Valery Gergiyev, Bibo Vatayev, Balo Tkhapsaev, Yuri Kuchiev and of course the brilliant Kosta Khetagurov. Talented artists like Makharbek Tuganov, Yedziev, Lazar Gadaev. Both Ossetia and Georgia have people any nation could be proud of. I read recently that Shota Rustaveli was really an Ossetian and not a Georgian, and that is flattering, but if he was Georgian that is also great! Sergo Zakharidze was a brilliant Georgian actor, and Georgia has a lot of talented actors today.
I think that all wounds need some time to heal. Of course, we can’t bring back the victims of the war… But I hope that politicians will soon learn to value good-neighbourly relations and will understand that neighbours are sometimes closer than relatives. This is especially true for the Caucasus – we always shared all our joy and grief with our neighbours.
Interview by Oleg Kushaty, exclusively to VK
