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YAKOV SILIN: “INTELLIGENCE. WILL. CHARACTER
Today, December 18, Yekaterinburg hosts a series of meetings with the author of the book Prison Diary, a member of the expert council under the Ombudsman for Human Rights in the Russian Federation, a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation Maria Butina, dedicated to the presentation of her book. The meetings are being organized by Ural State University of Economics. The author of the book together with the USUE rector told the story of Maria’s arrest and imprisonment in the United States, as well as why students and other people who faced lawlessness or got into trouble abroad need to know about it.
The first meeting was with journalists at the TASS press center of Yekaterinburg.
A Russian woman Maria Butina, who became famous all over the world in summer 2018 when she had been arrested by the FBI special department in Washington on suspicion of being a foreign agent and spying against the United States, admitted that it was the first time she came to the Ural, where she was presenting her Prison Diary.
Maria said that the book had been published 2-3 weeks ago. In the book, she told the story of her imprisonment "from start to finish", including the interrogations of US special agents, living conditions in prison, her morale, and what had invigorated her. She hoped for the publication's success, but as she says, the book caused just a stir.
Maria emphasizes that the developments in the book are described truthfully, including names and real events. The author gave nicknames only to prison guards who took a liking to her and whom she would not want to endanger.
The author stresses that she wrote with all her heart, not pursuing any political task. She is grateful for the support of Russian journalists, who objectively covered what happened to her. In conclusion, she knew that the country and family did not abandon her, and therefore she managed to survive all the difficulties. However, they were going to sentence her for 15 years in prison. Before returning to the homeland, at the plane's gangway, she was given a document barring her from entering the United States for life.
The family helped Maria to recover psychologically after everything she had to endure. Besides, her social mission helps her to forget everything negative and leave it behind. She helps Russians who find themselves in difficult, disastrous situations abroad, doing everything possible to improve their position.
One of the important points of Maria Butina's stay in Yekaterinburg was a meeting with students of Ural State University of Economics. USUE rector Yakov Silin introduced the guest to students as a person who could speak on behalf of the government and act in its defense.
The presentation of the book to students was also attended by the Chairman of the Public Chamber of the Sverdlovsk Region, Alexander Levin, an official of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Yekaterinburg, Alexander Kharlov, attaché of the Russian Foreign Ministry in Yekaterinburg, Vitaly Pirogov, Consul General of the Republic of Tajikistan in Yekaterinburg, Zafar Sayidzoda, and Ombudsman for Human Rights in the Sverdlovsk Region Tatyana Merzlyakova.
Maria began her speech with a story about how she taught her cellmates to play chess and count, noting the special role of the university in the development of the economy and chess art in the Urals. The girl said that her grandfather was also very fond of playing chess and keeping diaries.
The students asked many questions about the conditions in the US prison and the oppressive sorrows that Maria Butina had to face during her detention and after her release. For the two best questions, the students received the book Prison Diary from the author as a gift. One of them sounded like this: "What did you experience when you just got into prison, and what was the first feeling you experienced when you were released: overwhelming joy and freedom, or a desire for revenge?"
At the end of the meeting, Maria Butina's autograph session was held, the students could take some photos, and journalists still ask questions of their interest. Yakov Silin thanked all those present and once again noted the importance of the event.
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