An exposition has been organized under the patronage of the Franco-Russian Dialogue association. Its president is Prince Alexander Trubetskoy. Representing one of the most famous and noble Russian clan, he was born into a family of Paris immigrants in 1947. While living in France, he has remained connected with Russia for his entire life.
— What are the implications of being a Russian Prince in France? Is this a difficult title to bear?
It is not, but any prince's family bears special responsibility. Every person is in charge of his or her own affairs and we are also responsible for the good name of the Trubetskoy family. This is our duty. We have no right to forget about the role our family played in the history of Russia.
— How deeply is the genealogy tree of the Trubetskoy family rooted in the Russian history? I heard that you are even a relative of Grand Duke Vladimir the Red Sun?
The noble offspring have joined in matrimony throughout the ages and in our genealogy my direct ancestor is the Duke of Lithuania Gediminas. We are indirectly related to Saint Vladimir, the Riurikid dynasty, German and Polish noble families and even to Genghis Khan. In the land of Bryansk you may still find the town of Trubchevsk, while the Trubchevsky dukes were later renamed as Trubetskoy.
— How did your father, the son of well-known philosopher Evgeny Trubetskoy, end up in emigration?
He studied at the law school of Moscow University. When the First World War broke out, my father abandoned his studies and was enrolled in the Nikolaev Cavalry School. Having graduated from that school, he set out for the front as an officer with the Life Guard Cavalry Grenadiers Regiment. After the revolution the regiment was disbanded. In Moscow my father fought against the Red and defended the Central Post Office. He took part in an attempt to rescue the tsar's family and later fought in Russia's South with the Volunteer Army and in 1920, together with Wrangel’s detachments he participated in the Great Exodus of the Russian forces. He landed in Constantinople first, whence he headed for Prague where he graduated from the branch of Moscow University with a law degree. Some time later my family moved to France, where my dad started the usual émigré’s life. There was no means of sustenance, the diplomas were not recognized, and my dad had to agree to take any job available. At first he worked as a tram driver in Lille, then relocated to Paris and worked his entire life as a taxi driver like many other Russian émigrés. People of this walk of life thought themselves privileged, for they were their own masters.
— Your mother also comes from the princely family of Golitsyn.
She had an amazing destiny. Her first husband was Georgy Osorgin, who served in one regiment with my father and was even his remote kin. After the revolution Osorgin was incarcerated and my mother was able to visit her husband in Solovki shortly before his execution. In this she was assisted by Ekaterina Peshkova, Maxim Gorky's wife (she helmed the Help for Political Convicts organization). Osorgin was shot and my mom, again with Peshkova's help, received the permit to leave the country. She took with her two little kids. My father helped her. She married him and my dad brought up her children as if they were his own. I was born after the Second World War."
— What do you remember from your childhood?
At home we spoke only Russian, although before coming to France my parents had a good command of French and other foreign languages. We lived in poverty in the southern Parisian suburb of Montrouge, on the third floor without running hot water. In winter we warmed up at a potbelly stove. We spent summers in the country where we rented a room. We walked in the wood picking mushrooms and in the evening mom read us Russian classics in Russian.
— Marina Vlady told us that her classmates called her "a disgusting Russian" at school.
I had no problems of this kind. In rare cases they remembered that Tolstoy wrote about us in his War and Peace, but his character was named Drubetskoy, not Trubetskoy.
— How did your work life in France begin?
After leaving the secondary school I did not know what to do. I served in the French Army and then found a job at a shipyard in Nantes, which got an order to build several vessels for the Soviet fishing fleet. Shipbuilding blends together many industries, such as electronics, refrigerator plants, mechanics and hull architecture. I was a self-educated man, but thanks to that job I gained broader skills that came in handy later on. After the shipyard I was employed by a robotic welding firm. As a matter of fact, we supplied a welding line for the new Soviet car GAZ 24 — the Volga.
— Somehow your work has always been connected with Russia?
With the exception of several years, when I worked for an oil company and resided in Arab countries — Iraq, Syria and Lebanon. Upon my return to France I found a job at Thompson, now called Thales. That firm's specialization was projects in the field of electronics and computer science. We worked with Morflot, Soviet civil aviation, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Gazprom and ITAR-TASS. After leaving Thompson I founded a consulting firm and finally in 2009 became executive director of the Franco-Russian Dialogue Association.
— How did this association begin?
It was established in 2004 under the patronage of presidents Vladimir Putin and Jacques Chirac. Its current co-chairmen are: the head of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin and former French Minister of Transport Thierry Mariani. In particular, we organized a visit to France by Patriarch Alexey II. We organized the presentation of Russian regions in Paris as well as a meeting of Vladimir Putin with heads of the biggest French firms. Two years ago we participated in the inauguration of a monument in Paris to the soldiers of the Russian expedition corps fought in France during the First World War. We hold conferences and meetings which foster the rapprochement of our nations.
— In this dialogue the parties hear each other well, don't they?
Now we see certain Russophobia in France, but not at the level of common people. It is fueled by some influential media outlets. We have to constantly confront them, show Russia's true identity, giving a realistic picture and never forgetting about difficulties. Russia has major trumps for successful partnership with France.
— What do you mean?
Russia is not some terra incognito for the French. We've known each other for quite a long time. The French often wonder, whether Russia can be a reliable partner. I answer them: the unemployment rate is way lower in Russia compared to France, while the growth rates are much higher. Russia's weakness is that natural resources form the basis of its economy, but this helped it come out of the crisis with fewer losses than the Western nations had to suffer. Moscow does a lot to attract foreign investments and to boost Russian investments abroad. A short time ago the Club of Russian Investors in France was established. An article in Revue Defense Nationale argues that "continentalism" should come to replace the now dominant "Atlanticism" in France. Our countries share the same continent and common future. We should gradually inoculate in the minds of the French the idea that Russia is not only a part of Europe, but also a close geographical and economic partner.
— "Your homeland is France. Your Fatherland is Russia" – that is how your father taught his children.
He never tired of repeating: France accepted us as refugees and gave us jobs, even if not in accordance with our specialization. He thought we should be grateful: "Once you were born in France and got your education here, you should have respect for this country. This is your actual homeland, but never forget that your Fatherland is Russia."
— Don't you suffer from a split personality syndrome because of this?
The Russian and the French origins are intertwined in me. Of course I feel more like a Russian than a Frenchman, largely because of my upbringing. But I'd never renounce my French roots and I take pride in France, whenever it deserves it, even as I take pride in Russia.
— You call yourself a patriot of Russia. What does this mean to you?
Nowadays the concept of 'patriotism' is sinking into oblivion, especially in France. And in Russia too. Today patriotism is not perceived as the call to die for the Fatherland, faith, tsar, and this is wrong. If patriotism were deeper rooted in our nations, there would be no perversions in art, or the law about same-sex marriages, or outrages in the style of Pussy Riot. Patriotism is above all the expression of respect for one's Fatherland.
— You proposed the setup of a monument to Russian soldiers who fell on the battlefields of WWI.
Together with Prince Nikita Lobanov-Rostovsky we wrote a letter to President Putin wherein we drew his attention to the fact that there are no memorials in Russia devoted to the soldiers who perished during the First World War. Mr. Putin backed us and now a tender for the best project of such monument to be set up on the Poklonnaya Gora in Moscow is being held. The French-Russian Dialogue is helping to raise the needed funds. This is another example of how patriotism can be acted upon.
— This year the Church in the Parisian suburb of Clamart, erected by your grandfather's brother Grigory Trubetskoy, turns 90.
They started building this church in 1923 and the first liturgy took place a year later. This is the Church of Sts. Constantine and Elena who are equal to the Apostles. It is closely related to the history of our family. Grigory, my grandfather's brother, was a diplomat and an envoy of Russia to Serbia back in 1914. Together with my grandfather he was an active participant of the Local Council in 1917-1918, where Patriarch Tikhon was elected. He built the church in Clamart in commemoration of his son Konstantin who perished during the Civil War. My wife and I are its parishioners. I sing in the choir and my children serve at the altar.
— When will the Russian Orthodox Church near the Tower of Eiffel finally be erected?
This matter was discussed at the meeting of presidents Putin and Hollande. They reached the final agreement. I am happy that the earlier endorsed project which was not successful, in my opinion, was scrapped. Now construction is under way on an Orthodox church in Strassbourg. The erection of a Russian cathedral in Madrid is over. In Italy the Orthodox believers rank second next to Catholics in terms of numbers. In other words, we see a robust march of the Russian Orthodoxy in Europe.
— What role can be played by our émigrés and their descendants in the life of Russia?
On the one hand, we help the French understand Russia better and we struggle against Russophobia. On the other hand, we harbor love and respect for our historic homeland, demonstrating our allegiance. Even inside Russia you won't find such ardent Russian patriotism as here in France. We may idealize our Fatherland, but not in my case, since I am a frequent visitor to Russia. It's a pity that the new generation of Russian immigrants are starting to forget their native land and try to integrate into French society as quickly as possible. This happened in the past too. Some of the first-wave émigrés believed that their romance with Russia was over, since they did not want to have anything to do with Soviets. In my family we held a different attitude: unwavering love for the Fatherland and deep hatred for the Soviet system. With time the children and grandchildren of those who did not want to know anything about Russia became interested in the land of their forefathers.
— What's the occupation of your children?
My older son Alexander graduated from the Franco-American Institute and currently works in France, but intends to move to Russia. My daughter Ksenia works for the biggest insurance company AXA and is fond of equestrian sports. My second son Vladimir is a lawyer; after he graduated from a French university he also earned a Master's degree from MGIMO in Moscow. He got married in Russia and has no intention to return to France. He is going to work at the company he himself founded. Finally my third son Nikolai studies at the Higher Institute of Management in Paris. All of my children speak fluent Russian.
Interviewer: Yuri Kovalenko
Kultura newspaper
