Appeal for Kropotkin museum in Russia

We in KRAS-IWA obtained the following text which the ask to diffuse it in the international anarchist movement:

Dear friends and comrades!

Currently a number of anarchists are attempting to win opening of house-museum of Kropotkin in city of Dmitrov in Moscow region of Russia. This is where Pyotr Alekseevich Kropotkin lived last years of his life and died in 1921. Museum existed here until year 1942. In time of Perestroika authorities of Dmitrov promised to open museum again, and in 1992, at event of the 150th jubilee of Kropotkin, authorities freed the house where Kropotkin lived. between 2004 and 2007 it was widely announced that museum will soon open, and a memorial statue was set up
in Dmitrov. Local (now deceased) amateur geographer R.F.Khohlov collected exhibits for the museum.

Right now another enthusiast and researcher is working on museum, Jan L'vovich Prusskiy, but he has limited opportunities to push forward. Already for 15 years opening of the museum is again and again delayed, now we believe that local authorities are consciously slowing down the
process, as they are considering Kropotkin as a politically dubious figure.

Original dome of Kropotkin was dilapidated and got torn down, a project to reconstruct it was launched, and a new identical house is already partially built, but as construction is not finished it is now dilapidating.

Unfortunately, we may not found museum on our own - for this we would need huge treasury, also exhibition collected by Khohlov is state property. This is why we are attempting to put some pressure on local authorities to have them to finish the construction. We are ready for a political protest campaign, but we decided to start with a letter writing campaign, in order to show that there is a big interest to Kropotkin all around the world.

4th of September 2008 Museum and nature protection area "Kremlin of Dmitrov" (part of which is the house-museum of Kropotkin) is having a jubilee. P.A. Kropotkin was among founders of the museum in 1918, and we want to draw attention that in time of jubilee it is even more unjust to delay opening of the house-museum of this outstanding person.

We ask you to send letters addressed to administration to Dmitrov, where you show interest to fate of the museum and when it will be opened. Letters are likely to have more effect more formal they look like - so if you have an opportunity to use a letterhead of some official institution, where you may work as a researcher, journalist, activist etc., do it. Note your profession in letter.

We are happy to answer to any additional questions you may have.

Thank you for your support!

In solidarity, Olga in behalf of the initiative group.

E-mail for questions: taoom@riseup.net

An example letter (better to write in your own words, and also to add which is your relation to Kropotkin, about research you may be conducting etc.).

To head of Dmitrov region
Valeri Vasil'evich Gavrilov
Russia
141800, Moskovskaya oblast, Dmitrov
Ul. Sovétskaia, dom 2.

Dear Valeri Vasil'evich!

Name of Pyotr Alekseevich Kropotkin - scholar, outstanding revolutionary, great humanist, one of the main theorists of anarchism and remarkable traveler, widely known all around the world. Researcher of the ice age, discoverer of many areas, historian who wrote one of the best books on the French revolution, thinker who formulated famous bio-sociological law on mutual aid as a factor of evolution and literary researcher - Kropotkin is enjoying deserved attention and respect in many countries.

Huge, stable interest to personality, life and ideas of Kropotkin is proven by the fact that many books of him are still regularly republished in many countries of the world, historians and philosophers are still studying his heritage and works. International scientific seminars, dedicated to P.A. Kropotkin are regularly organized.

We are worried, that already for many years opening of house-museum of thinker, who is known worldwide, is delayed, although staff of Dmitrov museum has gathered a substantial exhibition. 4th of September 2008 museum "Kremlin of Dmitrov" is celebrating its 90th birthday. As we know, P.A. Kropotkin was one of the founders of the museum, so this is yet another reason not to further delay opening of the house-museum of this great person.

From our part, we are ready to cooperate and to do everything which depends on us, to make the opening as soon as possible. We are writing to you with a request to inform us about the state of affairs regarding to preparation of the opening of the museum.

Date
Signature (with profession and status)
Return address for answer

If you like to, you may address another letter to director of museum and nature protection area "Kremlin of Dmitrov" Anna Sadovaya (Istoricheskaya pl., dom 16, DMITROV, Moskovkaya oblast, 141800)

Please send copies of letters to P.O. Box 13 109028 Moscow Russia, and we will pass them forward to the aforementioned authorities.

In case you do not speak Russian, we will attempt to translate your letters. In case you do, below is an example letter in Russian which you may use (in case you got letters in unreadable encoding, write to contact e-mail above).