Talk on the street in Moscow - How do Russians say capitalism? "Nyet!"

by Scott Marshall

This article was reprinted from the July 6, 1996 issue of the People's Weekly World. For subscription information see below. All rights reserved - may be used with PWW credits.

MOSCOW - The last time I was here it was called the Soviet Union. Now it is Russia. More than the name has changed. As soon as you land at Moscow's Sheremetovo Airport you notice. Advertising is everywhere, mostly U.S. products, and it's not nearly as clean as it once was. Much seems in need of repair.

Traffic is heavy on the way into the city. What a shock to see an elderly woman standing on the shoulder of this big highway with car beads hanging off each arm. She is trying to sell them to anyone who will stop. Others are selling motor oil by the side of the road.

Besides the shock of seeing this kind of selling to survive, it is dangerous. No traffic laws seem to be in effect. Cars are racing past each other, passing on all sides, weaving in and out, and not only driving on the shoulders when necessary, but also up on the sidewalks at times.

On June 23 we go to a street meeting on the anniversary of the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union. There are official ceremonies and observances going on all over the country. This one is a protest meeting and a Gennady Zyuganov for President rally called by one of the smaller parties that is part of Zyuganov's Left Patriotic coalition. It is held at the entrance to the old Soviet Economic Exhibition Park. This park was once the showcase of Soviet economic achievement. Park buildings still bear their Soviet era names like "Technology Building of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics."

We knew we were in the right place because Soviet flags and portraits of Lenin and Zyuganov were all around us. Street rallies here are a big production. Banners are everywhere. A minivan-sized truck provides a powerful loud speaker system. A platform stage is quickly assembled, made of pipe and wood. It is portable and disassembles into a size that fits into the truck.

Several different groups have set up shop with tables of literature and newspapers. Someone tells me that there are now hundreds of local newspapers put out by Zyuganov's Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF). Zyuganov literature is in large supply and is distributed all around the meeting.

Osipov is a veteran of World War II. Obviously the anniversary of the Nazi invasion means a lot to him. He is wearing his war ribbons on his old brown jacket. He is very agitated about what is happening to his country. "It is clear to see that Yeltsin and his government don't think of the working people, by looking at the conditions of the people," he told me. "It would take a pension of 1.2 million rubles to equal the normal pension we received in Soviet times. Most of us only get about 200,000 rubles."

He went on to tell me about a 45-year-old friend who is an engineer with advanced training. "His pay is very low and he hasn't been paid in seven months. So now he collects bottles along the road to try and survive."

Ivan was a skilled film camera operator and also decries the state of Russian movies. "All the great studios are at a standstill," he tells me. "They are bankrupt and unable to make films."

Osipov is voting for Zyuganov - not to return to the past, but to "save Russia" and fight for survival today. "What kind of world is it where speculators on the street can make 3-4 million rubles a month and an honest worker makes much less and doesn't get paid most of the time anyway."

Victor Nikintinov, 69, is also a veteran of World War II. Victor lied about his age to join the army and fight the fascists.

Victor is wearing his uniform and carrying a large portrait of Lenin. He has a quick smile and is earnestly concerned that you understand what he is saying.

Victor is most proud of the Soviet era strides in providing to working class children. "My father was a backward illiterate and poor worker under the Czar," he said, "yet after the revolution I was given an education enough to become a highly paid chemical engineer. That's what we are losing and why we must elect Zyuganov. Under Soviet power working class children got a good education."

Victor has been a full-time activist for Zyuganov's campaign. In addition to selling newspapers he distributes leflets and literature. He also traveled to Tula, 200 miles outside of Moscow, with a Zyugznov campaign brigade. Victor is confident Zyuganov will win. "But it's not a shoo-in" he says. "It will take day and night grassroots work and mobilization."

I was lucky enough to run into Victor Pitchukin, or the Red Priest, as his friends call him. Pitchukin is a fiery and passionate speaker who is often featured at street rallies. He had been blasting American influence and interference from the speakers' platform. But when he met me, an American Communist, he was quick to say "I like the American people. I regret the situation of misunderstanding between our people."

He told me of the evils U.S. style capitalism has brought with it to Russia. He is outraged at the drugs, pornography and violence. This he sees as the greatest crime against the people. "We must oppose and fight against it and elect Zyuganov" he says.

Pitchukin was ordained in Soviet times. His teacher in seminary was the present patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, Alexi the Second. Victor said that he had no troubles being a believer and a priest in Soviet times. He was one of those beaten outside in 1993 while trying to defend the Russian White House when Boris Yeltsin stormed it.

Victor is wholeheartedly in support of Zyuganov. "He represents the people's movement to save Russia." Zyuganov has much support among priests and the middle levels of the church hierarchy, while Yeltsin is support by the top leadership.

Olga Sergeva spoke also. She is an impressive speaker and a member of the Moscow Duma. She just ran against Moscow's powerful mayor, Lushkov. She is a member of the Communist Workers Party, one of the smaller parties in the coalition, but she was supported by all the Communists. Running against the current mayor was a difficult task because Lushkov has the support of the Yeltsin machine and also of the "new rich" who are mostly concentrated in big cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg. Sergeva says she has given many interviews to U.S. magazines and newspapers, and she hopes the World can help the American people understand what is really happening in Russia. "Russians have no freedom or democracy," she said. "We have a totalitarian regime under Yeltsin." The so-called democrats used the issue of privilege and bureaucracy to overthrow the Soviets, and now they have much more of both. They don't drive Volgas, they drive Mercedes. The president's people have taken everything and care nothing for the people."

She went on, "You can't judge things by Moscow. Moscow is a bourgeois town. It is the center of corrupted bureaucrats, so naturally they support Yeltsin." She gives a big smile. "The people are waking up. The American people will wake up."