Roman Madyanov, a recognized Russian actor, has voiced a pointed critique about artists from Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania who have publicly disparaged the Soviet era. In remarks published on the site aif.ru, Madyanov confessed that he struggles to relate to colleagues who once held the status of USSR citizens and who now appear to be leveling harsh accusations against him. He reminded readers that, during the Soviet period, those artists enjoyed a level of adoration from the public that was hard to match in any other era.
“Beyond the featured roles on screen, you could see their charisma in ordinary life,” Madyanov reflected. “If a popular artist walked into a shop, the scene changed—he was not treated like an ordinary citizen. Much of what he desired would appear on the shelves, seemingly pulled from behind the counter just for him.”
The actor described how fans continue to demonstrate unwavering respect and affection for their idols through various gestures and public displays. He suggested that many former Soviet stars felt they had deviated from truth after the dissolution of the union, yet he cautioned that choosing that path was their own burden to bear in the long run. This tension reflects a broader debate about legacy, memory, and the evolving narrative of the Soviet past in post-Soviet society.
Meanwhile, another former Latvian actor, Ivars Kalnins, has opted out of participating in Russian cinema projects, signaling a shift in artistic collaborations that some perceive as a response to changing political and cultural climates. The discussion highlights how artists from the Baltic states and other former Soviet republics navigate the legacies of a shared past while pursuing new opportunities in contemporary film and theater.