June 4, 1996. The dacha of Russian President Boris Yeltsin: filming of the documentary film «A Man's Conversation». Source: personal archive of Irena Lesnevskaya and archive of The New Times ©
Everyone has their own Irena Lesnevskaya and their own associations with the letters REN TV. Of course, it's Yeltsin's interview, which Eldar Ryazanov conducted for REN. Of course, it's Grigory Gorin and Yuri Nikulin in «White Parrot», it's Yuri Rost, Vladimir Molchanov... It's a galaxy of brilliant people who came at the invitation of Irena, who was always informally called that by those who worked with her and those who simply interacted with her as part of their duties.
But I'm talking about the year 2003. In June, the TVS channel ceased to exist. And the long-suffering team of the country's best TV journalists once again found themselves off the air after the NTV debacle. And once again, it was unclear who would go where. But Irena invited Marianna Maksimovskaya to her channel REN TV, who had previously been an excellent reporter for NTV.
Both are taking risks: Maksimovskaya and Lesnevskaya. After all, they had never worked together before, had never done informational-analytical programs, and the year was 2003: Putin was in full swing, with the destruction of two TV companies behind him and increasing tightening of the screws in the media.
In October 2003, a new program appeared on the air of REN TV — «Week with Marianna Maksimovskaya». Owners changed, its leaders and even the spelling of the channel itself — REN became REN TV, the country changed, society and even the president changed, but «Week with Marianna Maksimovskaya» still airs every Saturday at 19:00.
The team of journalists led by this fragile girl has been proving for almost ten years that the profession of a TV journalist is alive and that it is possible to work with dignity and honesty on television even today, when it is almost impossible. For these feelings and the invitation of Marianna Maksimovskaya to REN TV, I am personally grateful to Irena Lesnevskaya.
And also — about another invitation on the air. Another brave and talented woman — Olga Romanova, who became the host of the daily news summary «24» on the Lesnevskys' channel. And in 2004, for her work on television, Olga received two TEFI statuettes at once — for the best program and as the best host.
And it so happened that Irena Stefanovna received one of these statuettes on stage for Romanova, because Olga had not yet returned to the hall after the first award. Standing on stage with the bronze Orpheus statuette in her hands, Lesnevskaya said, addressing the audience, where very different television people sat, who had come to the festive ceremony:
«...For many years, we have stubbornly done what we think is necessary. And for many years, we have preached only one thing: we are not prosecutors, not a party, we are free people in a free country. We say what we see, we have our own truth, not the one dictated to us from above...»
Almost seven years have passed, and it seems as if it was said yesterday — and about our today. Is it surprising that these words of Irena Lesnevskaya about the principles of her journalistic team's work were cut from the TEFI television broadcast in 2004.
And also — about something very personal and private. Many years ago, Irena Stefanovna Lesnevskaya made a New Year's gift to people who write about television. Personally, I had some special antenna installed on the roof of my house, thanks to which I could watch UHF channels, which included REN TV.
For me, it was true happiness back then. After all, in my area, right in the center of Moscow, our house only received the signal of the main six channels, and I suffered, seeing almost nothing of what appeared on the air on the same REN TV. Thanks to the miracle device gifted to me by Irena Stefanovna, both I and my neighbors can receive 22 broadcast TV channels.
In my work, this is simply an invaluable gift. Thank you, Irena Stefanovna, and happy birthday! Numbers — they are not about you!
Photo of I. Lesnevskaya: personal archive of Irena Lesnevskaya and archive The New Times ©
Photo of A. Borodina: RFE/RL