In the framework of a tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the group November 16, "Okean Elzy" made in London.

According to the Censor.NET, the concert in London was visited by a famous Russian writer Grigory Chkhartishvili (known under the literary pseudonym Boris Akunin), who shared his impressions on his blog in the "Live journal".

The text follows.

"A few days ago was at the concert of the group "Ocean Elzy". Am very impressed. And wondering about the unusual.

About unusual thoughts then, first impression. Not the music - it was wonderful, but I've heard it before. From the audience.

I was in a large hall, filled with people in embroidery. Girls with wreaths on their heads a La Natalka Poltavka. Just what all the shouting in chorus "Glory to Ukraine! Heroes of glory!" and waving yellow-blue flags. And in the end the whole audience together with Vakarchuk sang the national anthem - "it hasn't already died of Ukraine and glory, I will."

Looking at all this, I felt a strong sense, the nature of which I understood not at once, but when I figured out I was very surprised.

Feeling it, it turns out, was a fierce jealousy. You know, like in childhood: sitting at home with a cold, look out the window, and there's all play into something unbearable interesting, and they are great there. And you have a fever, from a nose flows, throat emery soon need to drink nasty milk with soda and put mustard.

After all, if we have a big crowd starts shouting "Glory to Russia!" and waving flags, it will either be some kind of formally Patriotic campaign, or a bunch of aggressive xenophobic. Well, imagine compatriots voluntarily singing Mikhalkovskaya hymn about "fraternal peoples Union century, I am not able, imagination is not enough.

It is noteworthy that the people at the concert, including Natalac-Poltava, for the most part spoke among themselves in Russian. A young man came up to me and said sternly: "About one please let your Fandorin in the next novel is not feuding with "the Right sector. All this of course was a Ukrainian nationalism, however, not ethnic, and state. And completely voluntary because it was not in Kiev, and in London.

The veterans of our community may recall that three years ago I was in Ukraine and wrote here in the blog that country, in my opinion, still does not work - at least, I did not feel and did not understand what Ukraine. All local asked about it, and no one, not even smart Lviv professors, didn't bring the formula of Ukrainization.

Now this formula is. Visible to the naked eye. Called the "national revival". And thanks for that Ukrainians should probably say Yanukovych and Putin, because the first provoked the Maidan, and the second helped the Ukrainians to unite and become a nation.

Nezabitovskys, I remembered how in August 1991 we also went with the Russian tricolor, and how nice it was. But then, very quickly, we tied. Phi! Officialdom and show off.

Further to my right through the liberal-cosmopolitan head began to toss and turn quite uncomfortable thoughts, Ukraine relations does not already have.

See, I always thought modern nationalism wildness, anachronistic and, worse, dangerous heresy. This word for me is an allergen. But he saw the crowd, proud of the national flag, singing the national anthem not under duress - and nobody curses and hate, and just enjoying and became jealous and bitter because in Russia it is impossible.

However, because without such a rise and unity, probably damn good in our country?
Well it is clear that Russian, Tatar, Bashkir, Dagestan and any other ethnic nationalism lead only to fight and trouble. And Russian nationalism? Not separating the Russian ethnic groups, but uniting them for a common cause, all interesting and important for all?

I want to ask you. How can it be wrong? Ideas and suggestions you have? (Not only war, please). What should be the state that people considered him? What should be Russia, to Grebenschikov or Shevchuk sang at the concert anthem, and all was not sick?".

Source: http://censor.net.ua/