Svetlana Sorokina has been working where she has been for a year now. Svetlana Sorokina - biography, information, personal life

What are your impressions of the first meeting?
Nothing yet. We just met. In general, everything was quite chaotic. Imagine: thirty-six people from a variety of organizations, each offering something different. In three hours, we only managed to determine the range of problems that we will work on in the future.
Do you believe that the council will have any influence on the president?
Personally, I don’t have any special illusions. I don’t think the authorities really need him now. It is quite possible that this is just another tribute to conventions.
Why did you agree to this job then?
I have always been guided by the principle “do what you can - and come what may.”
In fact, the list of names approved by the president surprised many. Here is the head of the Regional Journalism Club, Irina Yasina, in the past, for a moment, director of the YUKOS-established “ Open Russia”, and political scientist Dmitry Oreshkin, and head of the Russian Relief Fund Lev Ambinder. Is this a signal for the beginning of a “thaw”?
You know, I’m sad that many people try to draw global conclusions from such trifles. Apparently, everyone is so hungry for concrete actions that they are ready to see a forest in three pines. It seems to me that Mr. Medvedev could have repeatedly proven himself in more important things. For example, in the case of Svetlana Bakhmina, in whose support tens of thousands of signatures were collected, but who still gave birth in prison. Or in the case of the murder of lawyer Markelov and journalist Baburova. That is, the president, of course, reacted, but almost shyly. After all, not a single central television channel covered Medvedev’s meeting with Novaya Gazeta represented by Gorbachev and Muratov. What kind of secret is this? The current leader of the country is meeting with the former president of the USSR - why is this not an informational occasion? Is it less worthy than Medvedev visiting some agricultural farm? In general, I don't believe in signals. And in general, I think that it’s quite funny for us - adults, independent people - to endlessly keep our ears focused on locators. It is necessary to judge on specific cases.
Let's return to your activities in the Human Rights Council. Have you already decided what exactly you will do there?
It so happened that in recent years I have been actively involved in the problems of orphans and disabled children. I think I will continue to oversee these issues in the council. There are actually a lot of problems. For example, in prosperous Moscow last year the placement of orphans in families decreased by a third. How can we explain this? One of the reasons may be that people working in the orphanage system do not consciously want to make efforts to ensure that children are sorted out. After all, if the number of their pupils decreases, they will be left without work, and there is a crisis in the yard. Another reason lies in the law “On Guardianship and Trusteeship,” which was recently adopted by the State Duma and which practically destroys the institution of patronage. And patronage is accompanying orphans professional educators, psychologists, doctors, etc. This makes it possible to place not only young children, but also teenagers and disabled people in families. After all, most of all people are afraid to take them. But if they get help, if the state pays extra, if specialists are ready to advise, come, help at any stage, then they take it. However, Messrs. Lakhova and Krasheninnikov did not consider it necessary to register patronage in the new federal law. We raised the ears of the Public Chamber, the regions, the Ministry of Education, and even organized a meeting with the developers of the law. Some women came, almost doctors of science. We gave them all the reasons, but they were like peas against the wall. They chatter like crazy and don’t listen to anyone. In this case, there is no argumentation - everything is at the level of “to spite my mother, I’ll cut off my mother’s ears.” So we made a law and, even if we are wrong in something, we will not correct it. The feeling is that they defended their dissertations on this material and nothing else worries them.
At one time, you yourself took a child from an orphanage. Wasn't it scary?
What should I be afraid of?
Well, it is unknown what kind of genetics an adopted child has - good or bad - and when it will manifest itself.
A lot of research has been done on this matter. And most scientists agree that society and upbringing are much more to a greater extent influence the development of a child than genetics, unless, of course, we are talking about pathological deviations. However, in my case, I didn’t think about such things at all, I just really wanted a child.
How old was Tonya when you adopted her?
Eleven months. Now she is already six and a half years old.
Do you feel how your upbringing changes her nature?
You know, in Lately I began to catch myself thinking that it was unpleasant for me to talk about these topics. It’s unpleasant to talk about your daughter as someone else’s child. Not because I want to make my adoption some kind of secret - I have never hidden it, and Tonya knows perfectly well where she comes from. I just have a complete feeling that this is mine native child, my blood. Tonya not only looks like me, she is an improved copy. She is much more capable, more energetic, more beautiful. Gorgeous girl! And charismatic, by the way. In any place where she appears, no one else is looked at.
Would you ever like to expand your family?
In general, I initially wanted to take two children, but somehow it didn’t work out right away, and now I’m unlikely to dare. Children require a huge amount of energy and strength, and as I get older, my strength becomes less and less. May God grant that Antonina will be raised... Besides, the financial situation now, frankly speaking, is not the best.
Because of the crisis?
Including. The general background is, of course, depressing, especially in a situation where you literally earn every penny. Moreover, it has now become completely clear: the crisis will last for a long time, and one way or another we will all have to get used to new living conditions, and this is very difficult. And it’s scary to look into the future... On the other hand, I am against explaining all failures now as a crisis. It's pointless and unproductive. I brought my daughter with snot to the clinic. And while we were hanging out in the corridor waiting for a call to the doctor, someone asked her: “Where did you catch such a runny nose?” And she put her hands on her hips and said: “Why are you asking nonsense? Don't you see? The crisis is all around! ( Laughs.)
What does your income consist of now?
From work at the radio station “Echo of Moscow”, where I host my program, from teaching activities in two universities - at Moscow State University at the Faculty of Journalism and at the Higher School of Economics. Sometimes a hack turns up in the form of some presentations.
Six months ago I had the opportunity to talk with the head of Channel One, Konstantin Ernst. I asked him about the history of your dismissal, and he said the following: “I suffered terribly with Sorokina, including because of ideological differences. For example, I took the topic of her next talk show, sat her down in my office and said: “Svet, why is your head filled with so many stereotypes? Let me tell you how everything really works.” And he laid out the whole story for her. And at that moment she began to cry. She understood perfectly well that I was right, but her worldview did not allow her to agree with this..."
Yeah... In fact, Konstantin Lvovich repeatedly gave me lessons in political information, explained how the world works. He apparently believed that since he was a high-ranking boss and entered into power, but I was not, then he had the right to categorical reasoning. But I was never imbued with the ideas of statehood and patriotism in his interpretation. Moreover, it seems to me that Konstantin Lvovich himself is much smarter and more intricate than many of his arguments. I suspect some cynicism in his ranting. And I still timidly hope that he doesn’t think exactly the way he expresses it and how he forces journalists to do it in the propaganda programs of Channel One.
Does he really force you? Are you going overboard with the wording?
Well, of course, he doesn't eat anyone. But all central channels have a strict system of unity of command. On the First, virtually everything depends on Ernst, on “Russia” - on Dobrodeev. These are people whom a fly wouldn't miss. After all, they then have to report to the Kremlin... Ernst, by the way, when I worked with him, had the following slogan - probably it still exists today: “We welcome democracy, but we do not practice it.”
Let's be specific: which topics of the Basic Instinct program were not censored?
The Yukos case, for example. In my opinion, it should have been covered, if only because our judicial system has shown itself to be egregious. No matter how anyone treats Khodorkovsky, Lebedev, Aleksanyan or Sveta Bakhmina, no matter what they are guilty of, monstrous things were done to each of them, which in principle should not be allowed in a civilized state. Was it necessary to talk about this? Yes, you had to scream! Did they let you do anything? No. And there are a lot of such stories. Not to mention the fact that many people are actually prohibited from being invited on air. Such as Kasparov, Kasyanov, Ryzhkov...
Are there specific lists of persona non grata?
No, but they are not needed. The attitude of the authorities and the proactive loyalty of the editors are quite enough. A television channel is a very large enterprise, and it is difficult for one person to keep track of everything at once. Therefore, the system is built in such a way that very reliable people occupy the positions of editors. If Konstantin Lvovich doesn’t see to something, they will always come to the rescue.
How did you end up in this system? After all, it existed long before your arrival, and it is unlikely that you did not know about it.
Well, it turned out... Lvovich, we must give him his due, can impress a person when he wants. I didn’t have a job at that time - TV-6 had just been destroyed, I was completely distraught. Two years in a row of continuous torment and complete confusion about what to do next. And suddenly such a prince appears - smart, energetic, understanding, who says: “Let’s do a live broadcast, choose the topics yourself.” The first time we had a wonderful conversation. And I thought: “Well, there are probably miracles in life, and it would be a sin not to take advantage of them.”
I wonder why Ernst needed this? He didn't understand how it would all end?
Don't know. They say that he treated me well then. I suspect that this was the case. He probably decided to take a chance and try. But unfortunately ( sighs), very quickly everything became a problem. First, the live broadcast ended - we switched to recording. In fact, we switched because of technological difficulties, but in fact they began to cut the program mercilessly. Sometimes they cut it out in such a way that the meaning completely changed: it seemed that during the recording some people were winning the discussion, but on air it turned out to be the other way around. There were also quite comical cases. Once, a respected expert came to my broadcast dedicated to some judicial problem, who spoke very intelligently and meaningfully on the topic, and at the end he suddenly told an anecdote, as I remember now, about cats. Well, I just told it like that - by the way, I had to. So all that remains in the program from his speech is that anecdote. Everything else was cut out by the editorial team.
You couldn't influence her at all?
No. When I said that I would personally be present at the editing - and we edited it at night, since the program was broadcast the next day - they quite rightly told me: this is pointless. Because if a dispute suddenly arises between us, only management can resolve it, and at night it is impossible to reach management by phone - that’s all normal people sleep.
AND the last word in the end it was up to the editors?
Certainly. It's like that almost everywhere. That’s why it’s funny to me when they say: “What a brave journalist!” When I see a brave journalist on the screen, I immediately think: what a brave production editor, or owner of a television company, or director information service. Because there are always several people above a brave journalist who can greatly reduce his courage. And only if this does not happen do we all become witnesses to a civil act.
What happened to you the last straw, after which you left Channel One?
The program in which we talked about the terrorist attack on Dubrovka. I called a journalist on the air who worked there and saw everything with his own eyes. And he, as a witness, spoke a lot about the hostage rescue operation, which resulted in the death of more than a hundred people. Apparently, the conclusions he made were too sharp for Channel One. As a result, only his “hello” and “goodbye” remained in the program. After which he called me in amazement and expressed everything he thought about this. And he did the right thing. Who else was he supposed to call? To an unknown editor? After that, I decided to close the program. At the same time, I remained a full-time employee of the channel for some time - right up to the TEFI award. The last stage of voting, when academicians chose one from three nominees, was open. I voted against two Channel One projects in favor of some other one. As a result, as I was later told, the management was angry at such an unfriendly, uncorporate act. This was seen as a show of revenge on my part. And I actually just chose the program that I liked more than others - without any second thoughts. I'm used to voting the way I want, and not the way I should.
After that, you and Ernst didn’t talk anymore?
No, we didn't even say goodbye. If he holds a grudge against me, then it’s in vain - everyone has their own function. I’m not as stupid as he thinks, I just have my own principles. I really respect him for a lot of things. But he probably has his own skeletons in his closet.
Have you ever wanted to quit journalism and do something else?
It’s funny, but you are now asking me a question that I asked a television worker more than twenty years ago, when I was still studying at the Announcers Studio of Leningrad Television. The editors of the information decided to look among us for presenters for new programs, and one of the tests they gave us was an impromptu press conference. An experienced journalist sat in front of us, and we asked him various questions. I asked: “Would you like to tell everything to hell?” See, everything comes back...
But you didn't answer.
Honestly, I've been thinking about this for the last few years. You can't bang your head against the wall all the time. What especially brought me down was not even the dispersal of NTV and TV-6, although I was also very worried, but the defeat of the Internews organization, which was engaged in educational programs for journalists throughout Russia and with whom I worked closely. After that, I had the feeling that my life was over, there was no point in pursuing a profession. But then I realized that I simply couldn’t do anything else. Work in some political party I don’t want to, although I’ve been offered it more than once. After much persuasion from friends, I tried to work at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, doing PR there, but I also quickly left. I’m not a party person, I have a hard time with discipline. So there was nowhere to go - I had to return to journalism.
Have you ever thought about leaving the country?
No. I'm too local, so to speak. I go abroad quite often, I really like many countries, but in any case, when I’m there for more than a week, I get bored. I understand that I won’t be able to live abroad. Relax, travel - yes, but not live. All my friends and relatives are here. And I am a very sociable creature.
You said that you can’t do anything else besides journalism. What about the specialty of forestry engineer that you received at the Forestry Academy?
This is correctly called a “forestry engineer.” My specialization was “greening of cities and populated areas”, modern language - « landscape design" But now I couldn’t do it, even if I really wanted to. Since the 80s, this profession in our country has made great strides forward, and what I once knew and was able to do simply does not meet current requirements. In this area I am already behind forever.
Was this really interesting to you? Or was there simply nowhere else to go?
No, I graduated from school with a gold medal and could have gone anywhere. But I had no idea what exactly I wanted to do in life. I just loved learning, I loved the process itself. And when the question arose of where to go, I was at a loss. As a result, I found such an exotic specialty at that time. Then, of course, I realized that this was not for me and that I shouldn’t have entered, but at the same time I finished my studies anyway, again receiving a diploma with honors. I even managed to do a little professional work: I worked on projects for the reconstruction of historical gardens and parks.
If you analyze what has happened to you in recent years - all these TV channel closures, layoffs, disappointments - then, in theory, you should feel like a loser...
To some extent, of course, I feel it. Moreover, working on television occupied almost my entire life, I devoted myself completely to it. So when it all ended like that, there was a feeling of defeat.
And are you ready to come to terms with it?
No. ( Smiling.) You know, I am sure that you need to live in Russia for a long time. Look: in one of my still unfinished, I hope, life, so much has already happened! Perestroika, the collapse of the Union, the rise and fall of freedom of speech, defaults, changes of governments, presidents, victories, disasters. In our country, the most unusual turns are possible at any moment - both in global history and in your personal destiny. And I believe that the couple pleasant surprises still awaits me ahead.

Evgeniy Levkovich