When a U.S. Department of State official asked where I was being sent for two weeks as part of my fellowship with the International Center for Journalists, I said, “Tucson,” and he smiled a strange, apologetic smile. “It must be ... exciting! The desert,” he said. And so, without knowing much about where I was going beyond that, I came to a place where cacti grow and the temperature exceeds 100 degrees .
Some of my new colleagues at the Arizona Daily Star asked me why I chose Tucson. I honestly replied that it was not my decision. Robert Tinsley, the proposal development director for ICFJ, chose the places that participants of the Journey of Shared Discovery for Russian and American Journalists program would be sent. I believe he approached the matter responsibly and chose the most suitable place for every Russian journalist.
My native city of Saratov has a population of about 850,000 and sits next to the Volga River. Much like Tucson, it is close to the border; in this case Russia and Kazakhstan. However, t we do not have such acute migration problems, because not many people from Kazakhstan — or even the poorer countries of Central Asia — are trying to get to Russia. Perhaps life in Russia is no better than in their homeland …
When I went with reporter Curt Prendergast to see Operation Streamline in federal court, the immigrants who came before the court made a strong impression on me. Heavily tanned, some were limping after injuring themselves crossing the desert. Some asked about their children, from whom they were separated.
I also attended a court hearing for Scott Warren, the No More Deaths volunteer charged with human-smuggling. It reminded me of a recent court case of the Saratov public organization, which conducts lectures for people with diabetes and struggles to supply them with insulin. This organization was fined for participating in “political activities.” Six years ago, Russia passed legislation about “foreign agents,” which applies to any organization that receives even a $1 from abroad as a donation and might be involved in politics.
Together with reporter Emily Bregel, I attended a court hearing about eviction. She also told me about housing problems in Tucson, including dilapidated mobile homes. In Saratov, problems with housing and communal services are also very acute. The irony is that people in my city might be evicted before they can enter their homes. We call them “deceived co-investors.” People buy unfinished housing because it costs less, but construction companies, having received money, do not complete the job and just disappear.
Last week, I went to the Pima County Board of Supervisors meeting with border reporter Perla Trevizo. I watched people taking the microphone and expressing their opinion, sometimes insulting the public officials. When I told one of my colleagues from Russia, he joked, “It is a pity, they have anarchy in the U.S., and there is no hard hand there.”
In my city it is rarely possible to see citizens expressing their views to the authorities. Occasionally, we hold “public hearings,” where ordinary people can speak and vote. However, usually the room is packed with state employees who are forced to attend. The authorities then say, “Let’s cut down the park and build a new multi-story house there!” — and those gathered silently raise their hands.
During my time in Tucson, I was often asked about what Russians think about meddling in the American election. I answered that most Russians watch TV, where there is strong propaganda, and they believe everything they hear. The idea of interference in the American election brings laughter to Russian TV watchers as something impossible.
Reporter Cathalena Burch, who took me to a very fun country music concert, asked, “Does Putin also call independent media ‘fake news’?” I told her Vladimir Putin does not care about independent media if they do not have a large audience. However, as soon as the media expands its audience and builds influence, it is threatened with closure.
Along with my time in the Star newsroom, I also had the chance to do different things. I went hiking on Mount Lemon, took a Flixbus to Los Angeles, visited the Grand Canyon, took many a saguaro selfie, ate a lot of Mexican food and celebrated my birthday with colleagues from the Star, blowing out the candles on a cake baked by editorial writer Luis Carrasco.
I spent two unforgettable weeks in Tucson. And while that State Department official may not have meant it that way, he was right: Tucson was exciting, and ICFJ made the best choice for me.
