Ironią w strach. Dmitrij Bykow w Krakowie i Krośnie wiosną 2014 roku

Abstract

The text constitutes an attempt at outlining the atmosphere accompanying the visit of Dmitry Bykov to Krakow and Krosno in the spring of 2014. The visit of that Russian writer to Poland, on the invitation of the Rector of the Krosno State College, took place at a particular moment. The patriotic, pro-Putin Russia was celebrating the annexation of Crimea while Eastern Ukraine was the place of Russian diversionary war operations leading to destabilisation of the region. At that time, so difficult for the majority of the Russian anti-regime opposition, Dmitry Bykov shared with the Polish audience his observations and concerns regarding the situation of writers in 2014 Russia. In his vivid speeches as well as informal talks, presumably hiding his fear for the future, the writer employed the poetics of irony, the way Bulat Okudzhava, a poet and singer beloved in Poland, charmingly used to do.