I Am Writing to You in Moscovia by Uladzimir Arlou – Historical Reconstruction and Prophecy of Disaster

Abstract

The novella I Am Writing to You in Moscovia by Belarusian author Uladzimir Arlou portrays events from the time of the Livonian War, particularly the years 1563–1565, including the Siege of Polotsk in 1563. Alexei, the narrator of the novella and the author of a letter to his family in Moscovia, is a direct participant in the military campaign – a keen observer and critic of the atrocities committed by the tsar. In his letter to his family, Alexei describes his experience of war crimes, violence, murder, and betrayal – all of which remain unimaginable to most people due to the tsar’s propaganda. The narrator finds himself in a state of so-called “internal emigration,” his representation of the collective “us” is marked by internal contradiction and fragmentation. This distortion stems from his reflections on the figure of Ivan the Terrible. The narrator emphasizes Ivan’s cruelty, highlighting the tsar’s moral depravity. The way Arlou constructs his depiction of 16^th-century Muscovite society contains clear allusions to the period of Stalinist repression. Moreover, in the contemporary historical and political context of Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia, the novella serves as a dire warning of a looming disaster. According to Kremlin ideology, both Belarus and Ukraine are still regarded not as sovereign nations, but as mere parts of the Russian Empire – an entity the Russian authorities are now attempting to restore.