The Dancer | Generation Gulag: Azari Plesetsky

By Coda Story

Jan. 9, 2020

Born in a special Gulag camp for the wives and families of the men arrested by Stalin, Azari Plesetsky is one of the thousands who grew up fatherless after Stalin's repressions. Ballet was an escape for the Plesetsky children — Maya, Azari and Alexander — who became some of the Soviet Union's most celebrated dancers. The memory of the cruelty of Soviet authoritarianism has never faded for Azari. He has a message for us about why historical wounds must be reopened.

Generation Gulag is a series of nine short documentary films that uncovers the impact of Russia’s campaign to rewrite the history of Gulag survivors. The series features interviews and animated illustrations of the survivors’ memories, offering an accessible medium for understanding the dangers of recent campaigns to make history books fit new political narratives.

This story was first published by Coda Story. Watch the Generation Gulag series here.

Read more about: Soviet Union

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once

Monthly

Annual

Continue