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Transcript/ScriptUS SCIENCE
HEAD: Russian-American Science Conference Held in US Despite War in Ukraine
TEASER: Event brings together scientists, educators and innovators from the former Soviet Union, regardless of their politics
DATE:
PUBLISHED AT: 12/1/2022, 1:51p
BYLINE: Angelina Bagdasaryan
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Los Angeles, California
VIDEOGRAPHER: Vazgen Varzhabetian
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
SCRIPT EDITORS: Kenochs; Reifenrath
PLATFORMS: TV only
TRT: 3:01
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
((INTRO))
[[The Russian-American Science Association's annual conference was held November 18-20 in Los Angeles, California. The event had a different tone this year because of Russia’s war in Ukraine. VOA Russian has the story, narrated by Anna Rice.]]
((NARRATION))
Film director Egor Baranov flew from Moscow to Los Angeles in late February, after Russia invaded Ukraine.
((Egor Baranov, Film Director)) ((IN RUS))
“I had a choice: Either I would have drunk myself to insanity or gone to prison for some sort of anti-war activity. // It was as if I could peek into the future, and I saw that everything was falling apart. I realized then I can’t take it anymore.”
((NARRATION))
Together with his colleagues, Baranov recently participated in the annual Russian-American Science Association conference. The association brings together scientists, educators and innovators from the former Soviet Union, regardless of their politics, who work outside the Russian Federation.
This year, a lot of conference time was dedicated to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and how participants could help victims of the war. Ideas included signing petitions to help not only Ukrainians but also Russians exiled because they spoke out against the war.
((Alexander Kabanov, University of North Carolina)) ((IN RUS))
“It’s mostly Ukrainians, Ukrainian scientists who are still there, as well as those who have been forced to become refugees. But we’re also talking about scientists from Belarus and Russia who have voiced their anti-war position and have been persecuted for that; those who were forced to leave Russia.”
((Igor Efimov, Northwestern University)) ((IN RUS))
“I see how extremely talented doctors — cardiologists — who saved thousands of lives in Russia, many already quite elderly, have had to drop everything and leave.
((NARRATION))
Actress Maria Mashkova also made the decision to leave her successful career in Russia because of the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite missing home, Mashkova says she can’t see herself coming back — at least, for now.
((Maria Mashkova, Actress)) ((IN RUS))
“I miss people, miss my grandparents, miss Moscow. I have dreams about Moscow; I have never lived in the US for more than a few months, and in February, it’ll be a full year here. // For now, I can’t imagine going back, maybe when the regime collapses.”
((NARRATION))
Cinematographer Fedor Lyass also severed his ties with Russia by signing an anti-war petition.
((Fedor Lyass, Cinematographer)) ((IN RUS))
“It wasn’t hard for me to make the decision to sign the petition — I should have done it earlier. // Some 300 people signed it. I have no illusions this petition will change anything, but you need to do something!”
((NARRATION))
For film director Baranov, it was hard to stay and be surrounded by colleagues supporting the war. So, today he is in the U.S., supporting from afar those fighting Russian aggression in Ukraine — and hoping to return one day.
VOA Russian in Los Angeles, Anna Rice, VOA News
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Los Angeles, California
Embargo DateDecember 1, 2022 16:34 EST
Byline
For VOA Russian in Los Angeles, Anna Rice, VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English