Nikolai Rybakov’s Facebook page, 6.09.2021

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

We started our working day in Ufa together with Albert Khusainov, Chairman of the Yabloko branch in Bashkiria, and Kristina Abramicheva, Yabloko candidate for the State Duma, a public figure, a curator of exhibitions and one of the leaders of the Yabloko branch in Bashkira, and party members in the Art Kvadrat creative space.

The Art Kvadrat is one of the good and rare examples of how old historical buildings of the city are not rased to the ground with another shopping centre built on this place, but they preserve it, ennoble it, and breathe new life into it.

As a result, a large public space has been created where citizens can relax and spend their free time, and small businesses can create their enterprises, educational centres, cafes, beauty studios and different creative studios here.

We popped in to the “Ruelle 17” dress mating studio. Despite the fact that the price of their products is quite high for Ufa, there is a demand for exclusive products and the company always has enough orders, also due to its favourable location.

Photo by the Yabloko Press Service

We also spoke with the director of the Michelangelo drawing studio. Even those who have never been interested in fine arts come here. Both children and adults are taught to draw here step by step. In addition, good pictures made by children are put up for sale directly in the art studio and they are bought. Thus, children are motivated and taught to earn money from their art from an early age. Often children from this studio continue their education in professional institutions.

After meetings with entrepreneurs, I gave an interview on the Ekho Moskti-Ufa radio station. We talked with Ruslan Valiev, the Editor-in-Chief of the radio station, about fake political parties in the elections, about the problems of Bashkiria and why one should not stay at home on [the voting day of] 19 September.

On 3 September, the All-Russian Dovlatov Festival in honour of the 80th anniversary of the writer Sergei Dovlatov took place in Ufa. Such events, according to local residents, greatly popularised the love for Dovlatov’s works in the region. The residents of the Republic have started reading Dovlatov’s  books much more often than before.

The festival was held in the building of the Philharmonia, which is adjacent to the writer’s home. A permanent exhibition “Sergei Dovlatov. Memories in photographs by Nina Alovert” opened in the lobby of the Organ Hall of the Philharmonia.

The day ended with the distribution of leaflets with the Bashkir Yabloko team in the centre of the city. I talked with residents of Ufa and answered their questions. Ahead we have a visit to Tomsk.