Igor Baryshnikov, in his 50s, identifies himself as somebody born in the USSR. He studied in
mainland Russia, brought up on Russian literature, and love Russia. He doesn’t think that annexation was a tragedy and uses the phrase ‘ Crimea moved under Russian jurisdiction”. According to the man the life has gotten better, in particularly healthcare and all government services.
Baryshnikov is not an opponent of annexation, yet he is fighting new local authorities whom he accuses of corruption and neglect of interests of Crimea local residents.
We meet in front of Alushta city court building, where he comes to support 2 other activists Pavel Stepanchenko and Alexey Nazimov [ Ссылка ] accused of blackmailing new local authorities. Both – one municipal MP and an editor of Alushta newspaper - were supportive of annexation but criticized local politicians – formerly members of Ukrainian pro-Yanukovych Party of Region who later joined “Edinaya Rossia Party” - the ruling party of Russia. For that they were arrested in October 2016 in fabricated case while the investigations.

Baryshnikov - is himself is a local activist from a coastal town of Gurzuf - one of the most picturesque places in Crimea where the iconic youth camps for the Young Pioneers during the Soviet era was founded in 1925. Artek was considered to be a privilege for Soviet children during its existence, as well as for children from other communist countries. However, following the annexation, the now Kremlin-controlled management of the children’s centre has adopted an aggressive policy towards the locals. Having taken over a considerable chunk of Gurzuf land, they have enclosed ‘Artek’ territory within a 3 metre tall, 14 kilometre long brick wall. The groundwork had already begun in 2015. Since then the sea was no longer visible, and a well-known beach, beloved by the locals, has been closed in 2016 added to the camp’s property. Majority of Gurzuf’s residents, lost the ability to use the beach themselves, as well as their relatives who come to visit.

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