It's lawlessness, I will fight to the end

Leonid Swiridow, a Russian writer who worked in Poland for years, is dead. He had many friends in Poland, he knew Polish past and literature. The III authorities of the Republic of Poland considered it to be a ‘threat for State security’. Below we print the interview that Swiridow gave after expulsion from Poland in 2018.

It's been almost a year and a half since we first met. The editor has already told me how he was treated by Homeland Security. However, before I perceive to the future destiny of the world's most likely only writer with a ban on entry into the Schengen area, delight answer a little sensational but possibly more human question. I learned from your friends from Poland that erstwhile the Russian writer hunt began, many Polish friends broke contact with you, although no 1 presented them with evidence of Sviridov's spy activity. What did you feel?

– It was truly very humiliating. I felt terrible. I don't really know what my charges are, I don't know if they are, so I don't know how to defend myself. I wrote about it respective times in various statements to the Office for Foreigners or to court. A man's life is being destroyed, so I thought an authoritative would defend me as a foreigner. The situation that concerns me is an administrative matter. In order to make any decision, an authoritative must thoroughly examine everything – evidence, pros, cons, etc. If it's a criminal substance in a court of law, the case is being investigated. And here was the administrative case. And I believe that the administrative authority of the first and second instance did not do what it had to do. He just didn't examine anything.

Why didn't he?

– due to the fact that I'm a foreigner, I'm a Russian, and according to the state doctrine, I'm a "Rusk... shit." Well, he needs to get the fuck out of here. There! For that is the decision; for russophobia has become a state doctrine. And on the another hand, everything is classified and there's no documents, so nothing can be investigated.

In Latin civilization, based on Roman law, everyone has the right to defend themselves. How do you defend a man who doesn't really know what he's accused of...? Will we always know the charge hidden in Swiridov's briefcase?

– This folder may as well contain 1 part of paper on which it says, “The editor of Swiridow is simply a pig”. And that's the main reason. But what it says, and whether it says anything at all – we don't know that...

But we do know that you are considered a threat to national security...

– If I'm a threat, from my point of view as a writer and a citizen, it's a simple matter. If there is simply a threat, the threat must be eliminated. That is of course. If there's a terrorist threat or any another threat, something needs to be done quickly, due to the fact that it's a threat to national security. Meanwhile, in 15 consecutive months I continued to live in Poland and worked as a journalist. I don't truly realize the danger.

Let's go over it again. Since the Agency for interior safety decided that the editor of Swiridow is simply a threat to the safety of Poland – you have stayed and worked in our country for respective more months.

– Yes, sir. I was considered a threat in September 2014, and I left Poland in December 2015. In the meantime, I lived and worked in Warsaw; I went to various European Union countries; I attended many conferences; I interviewed Polish politicians, including Lech Wałęsa. After all, if a individual is simply a real threat, then something should be done about him – for example, in prison. And they just kicked me out after a twelve months. I don't get it. It doesn't stick to logic. Of course these paradoxes are much more.

Like...?

– erstwhile I challenged the administrative decision, I received a very unusual answer from the court. The Administrative Provincial Court in Warsaw stated that it did not agree with what ed stated. Swirridow, that the substance is political. I was shocked due to the fact that at the authoritative level, i.e. in no letter to court, I never claimed that this was a political matter. So the judge's reaction may mean that, after reading all the files on my case, her head gave birth to the thought that this could truly be a political matter. And she immediately denied it all. It's written in a court decision. Everything is available, I'm not hiding anything, and I can show you any writing on my case.

You lived in Poland for eighteen years. How did the decision of the ABW affect the professional life of the editor of Swiridov?

– Not only at work, but at life. The situation in Poland is what it is, people are just scared. The aim was to intimidate Polish journalists and Polish citizens in general, so that they would not contact me. Meanwhile, the court decision stated that nothing had happened due to the fact that it was possible to communicate by e-mail, compose letters, etc. There are many another difficulties. For example, the problem with selling my flat in Warsaw. It was a very complicated matter. Not to mention that I put many years of work and soul into the device and the renovation of this apartment. I had to leave my home overnight. I think what they did to me is simply a crime.

What were people's reactions erstwhile it all started? Finally, in the media, you have been put on a “Ruskie spied” label.

– Anyone who wanted to call, could talk in person, like ask what the situation was, etc. Indeed, specified calls from friends were, too. But most of them got scared, separated and avoided contact with me. I've already cut these people out of my life. Nothing by force.

What's next?

– I'm a public figure. I won't let go, I'll fight and defend my good name in court. If it is not possible to do so in Poland, I will go to Strasbourg.

These cases in Polish courts last for years. It could take a long time for you to get to Strasbourg.

– I foretell that my case will be dealt with before the ultimate Administrative Court in Poland in late 2019, or a small later. I already have the case number assigned. I can dictate it – Ref. Act II OSK 1084/18. You can always call the court and ask the spokesperson for a comment on the “spy case” by ed. Leonid Swiridov. Is he a spy or not?

Yes, only as you yourself mentioned – everything is classified. erstwhile I perceive to your story, it comes to my head that they can actually do it with anyone. Accuse – you don't know what – and seal the file. Looks like individual was very inspired by Franz Kafka's Process...

- Absolutely. I believe that this case violates the fundamental rights of the human defence and the right of the writer to work. This is the only case in the European Union for 25 years! This was done by Polish power in the regulation of the Civic Platform.

The contents of your file are classified. Was there a request for declassified?

– The ultimate Administrative Court decided that these papers could not be declassified.

What was the justification?

– No, it's not. I can show dozens of pages of justification. possibly the editor will realize something about it and explain it to the readers due to the fact that I didn't realize anything.

What about global human rights organisations?

– Nobody's curious due to the fact that they won't defend a Russian.

Well, possibly the public got interested?

– 1 very well known erstwhile MP and erstwhile chief of law of 1 of the erstwhile Presidents of the Republic has been asked about my case. He briefly replied: “Why should I defend this Russian Lonia?” It was a shock to me. And this is the SLD man.

But another SLD man, Leszek Miller, spoke to Mr. Editor, and even gave an interview.

– And then he got beat in Poland. I think he defended himself against that fool Krasko brilliantly. We have known Prime Minister Leszek Miller for many years. Privately, he's a very good man. Generally, if you live in Poland for so many years, you know many public people.

Speaking of relationships. I read that the editor of Swirridov was accused of making friends with public figures. I do not hide that as a writer I was shocked by this “argument”. I besides happened to be friends with people who interviewed me. It's completely natural...

– It's our occupation to meet and meet quite a few people. I spent quite a few time in the Sejm. I went to quite a few conferences. With any I drank vodka; others invited me to my birthday party; I attended weddings of various celebrated people. So what? You can't make friends?

Turns out you can't...

– To me, it's a barbaric thing. They say barbarism is from the East. No, this is Polish barbarism. I always thought that nothing bad would happen to me in Poland, due to the fact that it is simply a state of law. Meanwhile, they kicked me out and deleted the statutes of a resident of the European Union. Tusk and Schetina did it. The NSA was a political tool here. But to do it in specified a drastic way? How is that possible?

Meanwhile, the government has changed and... nothing has changed. Rusophobia is April to the best.

– Fortunately, a citizen as always is smarter than power. You gotta do something. Meet, talk, organize various parties. civilian society should tell the government that we cannot argue with everyone around us. Russia is close, the United States is very far away. At least it's worth trying to be friends with individual close to you. The argument doesn't work.

Petersburg, 14 May 2018.

Think Poland, No. 29-30 (15-22.07.2018)