## Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union after the President of the Republic of Latvia Unusual political figures of contemporary Latvia become heroes of theatrical productions during their lifetime. At the end of the past season, the Dailes Theatre premiered the play "Decree No. 2," in which the main character was the President of Latvia, Valdis Zatlers, who dramatically dissolved the Saeima on May 28, 2011. The role of the tough Zatlers was played by the famous Latvian actor Arturs Skrastinsh. Perhaps it is a coincidence, but it is mystical – just in September, when the premiere of the play "Principled Position" will take place on the New Stage of the National Theatre, the currently healthy and walking without a cane comrade Rubiks will turn 91 years old! And the main actions of the play unfold in 1991, when Alfred Petrovich was the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Latvia and even a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in Moscow. ## Prosecutor, Gorbachev, and the Maniac However, the other main character (or rather, heroine) of the new play is the outstanding investigator of particularly important cases, Rita Aksjonoka, to whom the author of the play, Janis Jonens, dedicated an entire trilogy. The first part was dedicated to the stagnation of the 1970s ("What Can a Person Do," staged in the past season), while the current part immerses us in the time when independent Latvia was restored. It was not just a sea of red-white-red flags and holding hands. It was also an era of racketeering, the explosion of monuments, and raids on the prosecutor's office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted by OMON. And also the events of the August coup, when the overthrow of the liberal leader of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev, was supported by only three leaders in the world – Muammar Gaddafi in Libya, Saddam Hussein in Iraq, and Alfred Rubiks in Riga. This was noted with particular irony at a famous press conference by Mikhail Sergeyevich himself, who returned from captivity in Foros, Crimea, in August 1991. The playwright Janis Jonens said that the third part of the trilogy will cover the events of the early 1980s when the maniac Rogalev was being hunted throughout Latvia. ## "Jelgava 94" It is worth noting the personality of the 46-year-old Jonens. He is a progressive modern Latvian writer, playwright, and translator who gained fame thanks to his 2013 novel "Jelgava 94." In this documentary work, Janis described his youth in a provincial Latvian town at the turn of the era when industry was collapsing and familiar foundations were crumbling. The novel was warmly received by critics and readers. In the fall of 2014, it received the European Union Literary Prize, which brought Janis 5,000 euros, but what is even more valuable – extensive support for the translation and promotion of the laureate's books at the international level. The novel has been translated into at least 8 languages. "Right now, I am doing a documentary investigation into the events of 1991," said the playwright. "These events were special in Rita Aksjonoka's career; her investigation into Rubiks' actions differed from other cases in her long career. This is related to a complex balance of power. The investigation was very labor-intensive, and it is quite clear who did it. The balance of power was such that the chances of arrest and prosecution in the future were extremely low. There were two prosecutors – of independent Latvia and the Latvian SSR, and there was a threat to the investigator's life, who had to protect her children and family, so we will touch on family life as well. Alfred Rubiks' group was also involved in the same investigation. Two principled positions meet here." ## The Young Lady and the Hooligan By the way, "Principled Position" is a quote from Alfred Rubiks himself, who said that his prosecution and imprisonment after the actual restoration of the country's independence was a way to discredit a communist for his principled position. But the investigator was also known for her position! "And here these two positions collide!" continues Janis. "Here a kind of Kafkaesque motif appears. I delved into this issue, read the book by Alfred Rubiks that he wrote in prison. Of course, he is undoubtedly an interesting personality. But the investigator in this case had, perhaps, a special approach – she really tried for her 'clients,' for the prisoners, and tried to behave very humanely. They even became friends. I understand that the friendly human aspect was perhaps part of the investigative technique. Yes, we are talking about such secrets that no one denies. And, of course, perhaps the most important motive manifests itself in the struggle for justice. And this is the main task of the investigator. That is why she refused to live a normal life." ## I Don't Believe! According to the playwright, we have documentary material before us; all the facts presented in the play are true. But within the limits of possibility, because in the testimonies of contemporaries and even in documents, facts are sometimes reflected quite differently. Janis read Rubiks' books and managed to interview Rita Aksjonoka, who passed away on December 10 of last year at the age of 89. However, Janis did not manage to meet Alfred Petrovich... "No, I didn't succeed. I was already standing at his house, calling, but it didn't work out. But I hope that Rubiks will make contact. I hope. There is some kind of premonition." In any case, it would be fair for the theatre's management to send Alfred Rubiks an invitation to the premiere at the National Theatre. What if he comes? After all, Alfred Petrovich is lively, energetic, and, apparently, this is his principled position! After all, the unyielding communist lives on Tomsona Street – it is only a seven-minute ride by bus or trolleybus straight to the theatre from Krišjānis Valdemārs Street. Moreover, for free, as a pensioner!
