text: Grigory Kozlov
Text: Konstantin Akinsha

Nikolai Khardzhiev - one of the leading scholars of Russian vanguard beginning of the century - in 1993 went to Holland, as it turned out, forever. His renowned archive, collected them for many decades and includes not only documents, but also masterpieces of fine art, has been illegally exported from Russia.

Timeline

Autumn 1992 - the famous Dutch Slavicist Willem Veststeyn comes to Moscow and met with Nikolai Khardzhiev. Scientific Requests Veststeyna help him emigrate to the West.
Spring 1993 - Veststeyn turn to galeristke from Cologne Gmurzhinskoy Christine and brings her to Moscow to Khardzhiev.
September 30, 1993 - Christina Gmurzhinskaya signed a contract with Khardzhiev and Chagoy to pay them on arrival in Amsterdam, 2.5 million dollars.
November 8, 1993 - Khardzhiev and Chaga travel from Russia to the Netherlands at the invitation of the University of Amsterdam.
February 22, 1994 - at Sheremetyevo airport detained Khardzhiev part of the archive.
April 19, 1994 - begins a series of publications in the newspaper "Izvestia" on the illegal export of archives and collections Khardzhiev from Russia.
September 2, 1994 - signed contract for the sale Khardzhiev and Chagoy Gallery Gmurzhinskaya "6 Malevich's paintings of the 2.5 million dollars.
September 9, 1994 - in the newspaper "Izvestia" about the merits of the gallery "Gmurzhinskaya" in the popularization of Russian avant-garde. Gmurzhinskaya said that she bought paintings Khardzhiev in Amsterdam.
July 27, 1995 - Khardzhiev is a testament, in which appoints his successor Boris Abarova.
November 7, 1995 - Lydia Chaga killed in a house on Olympia Plain.
November 9, 1995 - registered fund Khardzhiev - Chaga "
November 1995 - the newspaper "Moscow News" begins a journalistic investigation.
December 8, 1995 - Khardzhiev gives his last interview.
June 10, 1996 - Khardzhiev died.
September 1996 - new head of fund Khardzhiev - Chaga Michael Privat Charter change fund. November 1997 - at the stand of the gallery "Gmurzhinskaya" at the Cologne Art Fair appear gouaches Lisitsky sold her stock.
January 1, 1998 - Boris Abarov hiding from $ 5 million. Early April 1998 - on the recommendation of the Dutch government during the reign of the Fund introduced former government officials.
In the West, these values have become the subject of greedy interests of various art dealers. Mysterious and dramatic fate of the archive Khardzhiev spawned an incredible array of journalistic speculation.
After the death of 93-year-old scholar of his story finally became a tangled mystery.

We have tried now as much as possible to provide all of the presently known facts and evidence.

The most important of them - was never published until now Nikolai Ivanovich's last interview he gave six months before his death. In it he describes what happened to the archives, the creation of which was the purpose of his life.



Twenty-second in February 1994 the customs Konstantin Kovalenko drew attention to the passenger, who was at the counter customs at the airport "Sheremetyevo" accompanied by two policemen. The passenger with the guard, who was an Israeli citizen Dmitry Jakobson, was somewhat bulky suitcases. Kovalenko decided to inspect them and found many old manuscripts and photographs. Having one of them Mayakovsky, the customs duty has caused art critic Irina D..

That has determined that the suitcases are manuscripts of the poet Velimir Khlebnikov, letters of Kazimir Malevich, the paper Osip Mandelstam and Anna Akhmatova and rare materials on the history of Russian Futurism.
All of this was confiscated. Jacobson, who claimed that the bags do not belong to him, and he only asked to take them to Germany, was released and flew to Dusseldorf.

After inspecting the papers revealed that they originate from the archives of literary critic and art historian Nicholas Khardzhiev. In November 1993, this famous scientist had left with his wife Lydia Chagoy in Amsterdam at the invitation of the Institute of Slavic Studies, University of Amsterdam. Khardzhiev was 90 years old, and his wife of 83 years.

Among the papers seized from Jacobson, was found agreement in which Christina Gmurzhinska (owner of one of the world's largest galleries, "Gmurzhinska" selling Russian avant-garde, which she had inherited from the mother Antonina) promised to pay Khardzhiev Chage and 2.5 million dollars after arrival in Amsterdam. Agreement was drafted on Sept. 30, 1993 in Moscow and signed Gmurzhinskoy, Chagoy, director of the gallery Gmurzhinskoy Mathias Rastorferom and professor of the Institute of Slavic Studies, University of Amsterdam Willem Veststeynom.

From other documents found there, it was possible to conclude what Gmurzhinska promised to pay so much money. It was a rough draft of the contract, which read: "I H.N.I. (Khardzhiev Nikolai Ivanovich. -" Results ") is transmitted to the eternal storage K.G.B. (Christine Gmurzhinskoy-Bsher. -" Results "), six Manuf. Kaz.M. (Kazimir Malevich. - "Results"). " Here are schematic drawings of the six works by Malevich: 4 Suprematist paintings and gouaches 2.

For reference: the lowest price one Supremacist Malevich painting worth on the global art market for more than 2,5 million (as, indeed, even today). And then 6 first-class products.
April 19 newspaper Izvestia published an article about the illegal export of archives and collections Khardzhiev of the country. A certain "German from Cologne, was named the organizer of the" unprecedented in its scale smuggling operation. Started a bitter controversy in the press about whether the law is valid, according to which even such a famous scientist, as Khardzhiev has no right to take out my archives from the country and forced to resort to a "prohibited methods".

At that time no one knew exactly which were the values in question, even though everyone knew that the value of documents, manuscripts and works of art collected Khardzhiev, very large. The quality and size of the archive gave the idea that part which was delayed by Russia's customs - 3,5 thousands of documents. Composition is the art collection was completely unknown.

Only three years later, in November 1997, a Dutch journalist Hella Ruttenberg published in the Volkskrant newspaper excerpts from the collection Khardzhiev. It contains 1,355 titles of drawings and paintings: dozens of works leading Russian avant-garde artists, Larionov, Goncharova, Matyushina, Filonov, Tatlin, Lisitsky and many others. Including 7 of Malevich's paintings, 140 drawings and 20 of his gouaches.



Khardzhiev

Nikolai Khardzhiev born in Kahovka in 1903, studied at the Odessa University Law School. However, he did not become a lawyer, and began writing and visual art. In 1928 he moved to Moscow, where he soon became known in the circles of the avant-garde artists and poets as a kind of chronicler of the movement. Khardzhiev friends with Malevich, Harms, Zabolotskii.

In the early 30-ies he proceeded to create a "History of the Russian avant-garde." After the "formalism" has been officially condemned, Khardzhiev minimized his contacts with the outside world, but continued to collect and study materials on the Russian Avant-garde.
Occasionally, he still managed to publish their research. For example, in 1940, he prepared a collection of unpublished works of Khlebnikov. As the biggest connoisseur of creativity Mayakovsky Khardzhiev actively participated in the preparation of the collected works of the poet. During the thaw Khardzhiev as curator of the Museum of Mayakovsky in Moscow organized a series of exhibitions of avant-garde artists. For the first time after 20-ies viewers saw pictures of Tatlin and Malevich, Matyushina and Filonova, Guro, Ender, Chekrygin and Larionov. This was the beginning of international glory of Russian avant-garde. Overseas Khardzhiev considered the best expert on this flow.

Khardzhiev had the talent to survive in any conditions. He was extremely suspicious and mistrustful. Its archives and collections were legends, but nobody ever saw them completely. Flats Khardzhiev visited a very limited circle of people. At his door was written in chalk: "Please do not disturb". Once, even a kind of Moscow professor, one of the best specialists in the vanguard, was forced to talk to Khardzhiev through a door chain, standing on the landing. He never managed to convince the owner to let him.

Khardzhiev was not a collector - he was a researcher. Archives and collections have been useful to him as a working tool. He never bought from artists of their works: they gave their best work a man who understood their work as anyone else.
As a researcher, rather than the usual art collector, much less a salesman on the art, Khardzhiev could not assume that the drawings and paintings, which he collected all his life, ever become so important to the art market. By early 90-ies on the art market exploded with a series of scandals proddelkami works of Russian avant-garde artists (see "Results" № 21, 1996). It became more valued undisputed works. Academic reputation Khardzhiev was impeccable, and the origin of things from his collection was no doubt. The painting of Khardzhiev "was considered absolutely" clean ". And the price of "pure" paintings by Malevich, for otsekam Espert, can now rise to 10 million dollars. His drawings are about 100 thousand, gouaches - from 300 thousand dollars to a million. In hardzhievskoy collections there were hundreds. It is obvious that those who offer this collection for sale, will be master of the world market of Russian avant-garde.


The position of the Federal Security Service:
Investigation Department of the Federal Security Service of Russia criminal case, brought up on charges of attempted smuggling from Russia of the literary archive of the famous Moscow art critic and collector, NI Khardzhiev. During the investigation of the criminal case being investigated all the circumstances connected with the fate of the vast collection of art and literary archive of the collector.
The objectives of the investigation of this criminal case is a complete, comprehensive and objective disclosure of the crime, the establishment of all those involved in its commission and to bring them to justice and return to Russia contraband removed from her creative heritage Khardzhiev. In this regard, Russia's FSB has been working in close contact with the Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, as well as mnterpolom and law enforcement agencies of Germany and the Netherlands.

The extended solution of the above tasks primarily driven by the reluctance of the Fund "Khardzhiev - Chaga" in the Netherlands to return cultural property belonging to Russia.

The very course of a criminal investigation and established him in the circumstances and the person at present constitute the secret of investigation. However, its completion we will be given full information about its results.


Check out

For many years, scientists have wanted to go to the West. But he could not leave his papers and take him by the law was impossible. Although precedents. For example, the largest collector George Costakis received permission to export to Greece part of its collection of Russian avant-garde. For this he had to "donate" the Tretyakov Gallery many valuable works. Khardzhiev believed that he do not get: he was a foreigner, as Kostaki. In addition, the scientist did not want to give the State, which for many years pursued the avant-garde artists, none of them works.


Several times Khardzhiev trying to find someone prepared to take the archive and collection of the country. But it was dangerous. One of his friends, who had the opportunity to organize Khardzhiev move to the West, openly told him that none of the people, respecting and valuing the scientist does not assume responsibility for such an adventure.
Khardzhiev not receded. In an effort to leave his wife supported Lidiya Chaga. A relative of the famous artist Dmitry Mitrokhin, herself an excellent sculptor, she knew what an outstanding role played her husband in the study of Russian avant-garde. Strong-willed and energetic man, Chaga believed that aims to protect Khardzhiev from social ills, and saw in the move to the West a unique opportunity to create a scientist normal working conditions.

In his letters to his friend in Moscow, written in the summer of 1994 and subsequently published in the newspaper Moscow News, Chaga told how Khardzhiev find people who have agreed to arrange his departure from Russia.

"In the autumn 92 года came to us, Professor W. (Willem Veststeyn from the Institute of Slavic Studies, University of Amsterdam. -" Results ") with a proposal to publish all the material for the anniversary of Mayakovsky and asked if I would come NI (Nikolai Ivanovich Khardzhiev. - Summary ") for a visit. NI said that the age of the guests ride it was too late, as well as the life of our labor and its print forever with distortions, it would have arrived for good, leaving his collection to museums, archives and institutions, and he would have edited his work, how many have time. VI twice came to us with the Dutch museum and found that all of this. In the spring (1993. - "Results"), they brought us Christine (Gmurzhinsku. - "Results") was found that Bukharin knew the deceased mother of Christine, which was a decent man - hence the trust arose. entered into an agreement, it is very advantageous for them: they have 6 best kept things so that 2 of them we sell them, the remaining 4 are transmitted (of the same. - "Results") in "everlasting possession", ie without the right to sell, but with the obligation to convey to the museums. For this was promised to guarantee the safe delivery of the archives and several more pictures, less preserved ... The professor came to VA regularly and helped to pack and align NI Archive - 280 folders, where the manuscripts have been invested, and drawings and watercolors, and precious books. Incidentally, V. compiled a list of the contents of folders ... part of the library, too, promised to bring and took a lot of luggage. .. " (MN, 1996, № 30)

According Khardzhiev, Gmurzhinska and director of its galleries Mathias Rastorfer personally carried the value of the apartment elderly scientist, not trusting anyone. First, archives and collections located in a specially equipped apartment-safe on Tverskaya Street in Moscow, and then parts were sent abroad.

Khardzhiev agreed to leave Russia only if he receives the news that the archive and the collection has arrived safely in the West. He assured that the transport was successful, and in November 1993, he and his wife arrived in Amsterdam at the invitation of the Institute of Slavic Studies.
Unfortunately, the old scientist and his wife did not know what they could legally take and archive pictures in Holland and use them until they die. In April 1993, came into effect a new law of Russia on the import and export of cultural property. Under the law can be taken out archival documents and works of art abroad for any length of time on the condition that they return to Russia. And to find people in Russia who would pay for six paintings by Malevich 2,5 million dollars to ensure that elderly Csete tranquil old age in the Netherlands, it would be much easier than access galeristke from Cologne. But surrounded Khardzhiev not find anyone to explain it to him. However, many close to Khardzhiev people believe that, even knowing of the existence of such a law, it would not be trusted to Russia's government, much domestic business even more.

Christina Gmurzhinska-Bsher
was born in Breslau. Grew up in Cologne. She studied art history in Paris. He said in Russian. Now - one of the most influential figures in the market of Russian avant-garde. Her mother, Antonina one of the first realized the commercial significance of the Russian avant-garde and established a gallery in Cologne, Gmurzhinska. Starting in the 60 years, practically from scratch, she made a fortune in trade works by artists who were in the USSR contemptuously dubbed "formalists. Christina Gmurzhinska started working in the gallery mother in 1973. Family or Kids business passed to her after her mother's death in 1986.

Amsterdam. Hilton Hotel and a house in Olympia Plaine, 55
November 8, 1993 the two old men for the first time in his life left the country. The first unpleasant surprise was that, despite the promises, pictures and archive in the Netherlands was not there. According to the fungus, published in the same Moscow News, books and paintings were the Germans, and the entire archive in Moscow remained safe-house where all ransacked, and shared - that someone is now not prove ... " (We can assume that in this moment of the archive and split off the part that was later detained by the Customs.) NI in Amsterdam to discover that nothing has arrived, became ill with jaundice and started shouting: "Where are my papers and cried all the time. "

Khardzhiev chaga and settled in the Hilton Hotel, expensive and of little to people who do not speak any foreign language. Financially, older people were depending on Gmurzhinskoy: "... we opened the account and offered to spend as much as possible (and Christina will clean up his paintings and drawings).
Only after the Moscow customs officials impounded part of the archive Khardzhiev and found a paper on the agreement with Gmurzhinskoy, the remnants of collections and archives were transferred from Germany to Amsterdam.

By this time, an elderly couple - at the expense of those same 2.5 million, of which agreed with Gmurzhinskoy in Moscow - bought a house on a shady street Olympia Plain. But moving to Olympia Plaine not made the life of two elderly people had difficulty walking easier. Khardzhiev and Chaga need of care, the people who could provide them with basic contact with the outside world.

A communication was not. It seemed that Khardzhiev and his wife live in an impenetrable wall. First settled with Russian family Yegorov, who had nursed spouses. But soon Egorovs were expelled, as Khardzhiev and Chaga believed that they were related to Gmurzhinskoy. That Cologne galeristku mature wife accused in all their misfortunes.

Nicholas Ilyin
A descendant of Russian emigrants of the first wave. Lives in Frankfurt. He said in Russian. Previously - General Manager of Public Relations German airline Lufthansa. He took an active part in organizing the largest exhibitions of Russian avant-garde, for example, "Great Utopia", shown in Europe and America. He has extensive contacts in the Ministry of Culture of Russia. In 1996, a respectable German magazine "Focus" Ilyina accused that he was using his official position, through front companies in Finland has sold rights to the exhibition of the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum in Museums United States and Western Europe. In early 1998, this theme was continued by the magazine "Der Spiegel". Now Ilyin - European Representative for Public Affairs American Foundation Solomon R. Guggenheim.

No sooner was shocked by the news that part of the archive delayed at customs, as in Russia's press published the sensational publication of "case Khardzhiev." Then it turned out that the visa for which Khardzhiev and Chaga have arrived in Holland, is overdue and necessary to obtain a residence permit from local authorities. To make matters worse, when the couple took up parsing of archives and collections, which arrived in Amsterdam, they have the impression that the folders that are packaged them in Moscow, the lack of many valuable documents, drawings and books. Guilty of "misappropriation" the archives and collections they considered Gmurzhinsku.

The remaining papers and pictures were placed in one of the banks in Amsterdam. Here, according to Khardzhiev, there was another loss. Later, he said that Professor Veststeyn, who had access to a bank safe-deposit box, subscribed to the name Khardzhiev, giving some valuable materials, including manuscripts Klebnikov.
Khardzhiev and his wife realized that they were pawns in a strange game. Once in the Netherlands without a residence permit, without money, the archive and collections, they also accused Russia of violating the law. Lydia Chaga has given an interview respectable Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblat. A few days later she excitedly phoned the newspaper and prohibited from publishing their own words. In the newspaper staff had the impression that the elderly woman refused to be interviewed by someone's pressure.



negotiations

Elderly Couple had to lead complex negotiations, and at once with two partners: the gallery "Gmurzhinska and the Ministry of Culture of Russia.

The talks preceded by a violent campaign in the press. In "The News", told about the illegal export of collections, attacked Russia's intellectuals. They all came to the defense Khardzhiev, arguing in the pages of Russian Thought "and" Literary Gazette "that he had every right to take their collections and archives. (Intellectuals did not notice that in defending Khardzhiev, they helped Christine Gmurzhinskoy.)

Negotiations Gmurzhinskoy to pay 2.5 million for the paintings of Malevich complicated by the ambiguity of the situation of archives and collections. According to the lawyer Gmurzhinskoy now, the collection was taken in Amsterdam in full, and in June 1994 was its inventory.

However Khardzhiev and Chaga believed Gmurzhinska returned not all. The couple could not openly accuse galeristku, without going into details of the illegal export of treasures from Russia, part of which, moreover, was detained by Customs and did not get to Amsterdam. Gmurzhinska is sought as soon as possible to formalize in Amsterdam purchase of paintings by Malevich, already all 6, with no conditions for transfer of 4 of them on an everlasting possession. "

Negotiations with representatives Gmurzhinskoy lasted several months. After another round of Chaga wrote to her friend in Moscow: "The meeting took place, but complicated by the new shit, which suggests that either they think we are quite survivors from the mind or exceeded all the limits of audacity ... Even this Ilyin, with its strong ties."
Nicholas Ilyin elected as its mediator in the negotiations with the scientist and his wife, the Ministry of Culture of Russia. A descendant of Russian emigrants of the first wave, the nephew of the famous philosopher Ilyina, while he was general manager of Public Relations Lufthansa and was responsible for sponsorship of cultural projects. Thanks to this Ilyina were extensive contacts in the ministry. The old men, terrified by the possibility of criminal prosecution by the Russian authorities in connection with the illegal export of values, agreed to use the services of people close to the ministry. Moreover, according to Khardzhiev, energetic person Lufthansa introduced him ill-wisher Gmurzhinskoy.

Willem Veststeyn Professor, head of Russian literature mnstituta Slavonic Studies, University of Amsterdam. Specializes in works of Velimir Khlebnikov. He said in Russian.

Ministry of Culture insisted on "the immediate transfer of the archive Khardzhiev the Embassy of Russia in the Netherlands" in exchange for ending the criminal investigation of illegal export of cultural property. In addition, the Ministry called on the scientist to give the archive, a detainee at the Sheremetyevo customs office, Rossiyskomu State Archive of Literature and Art (RGALI). Confiscated archive already belonged to Russia, but the fact of donation was needed to calm passions. (In the end Khardzhiev made this gift, stipulating that "closes the archive to researchers for 25 years.)

From correspondence with the Ministry Khardzhiev Chage and it became clear that it is a strange way binds the outcome of negotiations with the position of spouses in relation to their current environment.

(In one of his letters to Khardzhiev then Deputy Minister of Culture of Russia Mikhail Shvydkoi stressed: "I must be sure that those people that helped you recently, did not suffer." Perhaps the vice. Minister had in mind Veststeyna, Gmurzhinsku and its assistants.)
September 2, 1994 in Amsterdam, was issued a contract for the sale of the notorious Malevich Gallery Gmurzhinska. Prudent galeristka included in the contract item about the possibility of "selling the future of these papers in the collection - museums and private collections - with the necessary condition that the buyer can appreciate the cultural and historical value of items purchased. Price for all 6 pictures remained the same - 2.5 million dollars!

Boris Abarov
The nephew of the famous Moscow Art actor Boris Petker. A graduate of the Directing Department GITIS. Assistant props on the set of "Stalker Tarkovsky. Then the Department of Culture Krasnopresnensky District Komsomol Committee. In 1980 he emigrated from Russia. Became acquainted with Chagoy in 1994. Since 1995, becoming the main "domoupravitelem" in the family Khardzhiev - fungus. Bequest Khardzhiev became his heir. After the death of Khardzhiev headed the fund in his name. According to the Dutch press in early 1998, fled with $ 5 million. At present, presumably living in New Zealand.

Rather Khardzhiev was forced to sign a contract, as it told us the head of the Department of Conservation of Cultural Property to the Ministry of Culture of Russia Valery Kulishov: "We have a copy of the contract between Khardzhiev and Christine Gmurzhinskoy committed on Sept. 2, 1994, ie after removal of the spouses in the Netherlands. The subject is 6 works by Kazimir Malevich totaling $ 2.5 million. Because of its content, we can conclude that Gmurzhinska already paid for all costs associated with furnishing the spouses in the Netherlands (house in Amsterdam, legalization, through a bank, etc.), which amounted to approximately 600 thousand U.S. dollars ... The balance of $ 1.9 million was to be transferred to the Khardzhiev, after he had a handwritten signature to authenticate each of their paintings sold. Consequently, the couple could not independently manage their own money so far, has not fulfilled the conditions Gmurzhinskoy.

A week later - the first time since the scandal with the collection - Gmurzhinska silent on this in the press. In that same newspaper Izvestia, which began a journalistic investigation of the "unprecedented smuggling operation and Gmurzhinskoy role in its organization, September 9, published an article by Eugene Bovkun" Khardzhiev presents its own archive of Russia. " But it it was not so much about Khardzhiev much about the merits of the gallery "Gmurzhinska. (Ministry of Culture announced elderly Couple that article Bovkun was the result of his efforts.) Owner of the gallery itself hastened to declare that it had bought paintings from Khardzhiev only after his move to Holland.

How to assure those who communicate with Khardzhiev and Chagoy while old people have the impression that Moscow officials blanch Gmurzhinsku and Ilyin was with her in the conspiracy.
They did not trust him with their letters. Further negotiations had to the Ministry and Russia's diplomats in the Netherlands.

Gradually, the negotiations reached an impasse. Khardzhiev not agree to return to Moscow his collection. He was ready for a symbolic gesture - a gift of two or three paintings. Ministry of similar turn of events is clearly untenable. Ministry reminds the scientist and his wife about the "seriousness of the situation" and even the possibility of connection to the investigation of Interpol. It is hard to imagine how long the war would last letters, but at this time in Amsterdam, the tragic events occurred.


Jan Buze
Amsterdam businessman and adviser on pension issues. Financial Advisor Khardzhiev was due to his partiality for water transport. In house Khardzhiev fell during the life of Lydia fungus. (Her father, a sailor took his baby daughter in swimming. Since then, it dreamed to buy his own boat and asked Abarova help her. He readdressed the request Buze. Yacht purchase failed, but the old couple became advisor to the person's face, knowing nothing about art in general and the Russian Avant-garde in particular.) Nov. 9, 1995 completing registration fund behalf Khardzhiev and in January 1996 became an authorized Abarova. According to press reports, at the present time, earning at the history of archives and collections Khardzhiev million dollars, bought a villa in France on the Cote d'Azur and went there.



Accident or murder?
In 1995, the Museum Ludwig in Cologne, organized the exhibition of Kasimir Malevich. It was organized in cooperation with the State Russian Museum, which provided the lion's share of the exhibits. However, the curators of the Russian Museum were not notified of one picture, which their German colleagues have included in the exhibit. It was "Supremacist Arrangement Malevich, bought by Christine Gmurzhinskoy Khardzhiev.

Shortly before the opening of the Cologne exhibition galeristka resold "Supremacist track" to his loyal customer - "chocolate king" Peter Ludwig, the creator of the museum in Cologne. Painting was not only incorporated into the exposition, but also graced the cover of the exhibition catalog. Only after the dramatic protests of the staff of the Russian Museum has finished cover was put under the knife. However, the picture of hardzhievskoy collection remains on display, and the indignant members of the Russian Museum refused to take part in the opening day.

Friends Khardzhiev and the fungus talk, that those painful the news of the sale of "Suprematism composition" Ludwig. The old men for some reason thought that, while they are alive, Gmurzhinska hesitate to sell items from their collections, which she inherited.
The scientist was difficult to reconcile with the fact that his treasure would pass from hand to hand on the international art market. But he no longer had the legal possibility to prevent it. Immediately after the Cologne scandal Lydia Chaga, which supported all family contacts with the outside world, has agreed to give an interview to one of the authors of this article and tell the truth about the Khardzhiev. Interviews took place. At a time when ticket to Amsterdam has already been bought, there came the terrible news - November 7, 1995 Lydia Chaga died.

The circumstances of her death, and today it is unclear. In recent months the fungus lives in the house at the Olympia Plaine appeared Boris Abarov, a former Moscow director, with 70 years living in Holland. He became secretary, major-domo, and indeed the guardian of an elderly couple. It was he who called emergency doctors, who found the bloodstained chaga with his head smashed. Abarov claimed that his wife Khardzhiev fell down the steep stairs - the compulsory affiliation of any of Amsterdam's house. In the press have suggested that Abarov he pushed an elderly woman down the stairs during an argument. However, the Dutch police was satisfied with the version of the accident. 92-year-old scientist was left alone.

Michael Privat
Amsterdam notary. Until April 1997 he worked in a notary's office, "Lubbers and Dyke", which carried out all legal transactions Khardzhiev and fungus. July 27, 1995 in the will Khardzhiev instill in their appointed executor. Summer 1996 Abarova replaced as head of fund Khardzhiev - fungus. Currently, reports on the activities of the fund to finance police and the new board members appointed on the recommendation of the Dutch pravitelstvaIlin engaged in "shuttle diplomacy" and began to send letters to the Ministry of Khardzhiev and Chage and their responses Moscow officials.

meeting

After the death of fungus remained a possibility to learn the truth - get a meeting with Nikolai Khardzhiev.

It was not easy. Access controlled scientist Boris Abarov. Before you allow the interviewer to Khardzhiev, Abarov, he said, was to negotiate with his colleague, co-chair of the newly created fund Khardzhiev - fungus, a consultant on pension funds by Ian Buze. There could not arouse suspicion that the fund was registered just two days after the death of fungus - November 9, 1995.

Agreeing to establish a fund, Khardzhiev wanted his suffering was finally collection accessible to the public. Buze helped to register the fund. His head was very Khardzhiev. According to the statute, the Fund should have lead at least three members of the board, among them - one a politician and an art critic.
Finally, permission to meet with Khardzhiev was received, and December 8, 1995, he told stories about his departure from Russia and the events that followed. (See below an interview with Khardzhiev.)



"Selection of the best"
This was the last interview the scientist. A few months later, June 10, 1996, he died. On the testament of his property was divided between the Fund and Boris Abarovym. At this time there is a new player - notary Michael vaccinated.

Privat appointed executor Khardzhiev. Coming from a humble notary offices Lubbers i Deik becomes almost the main actor in the drama with hardzhievskim heritage.

Fund abruptly changes its policy. Instead, recorded in the Charter provisions on the "preservation of the collection as a whole" decision "to choose the best." Desire Khardzhiev put his collection to public view is forgotten. It is interesting that Abarov, and instill begin giving interviews in which he tried to convince the press that in fact, archives and collections are worth nothing. As stated Abarov in the newspaper Volkskrant, is "just a pile of old papers, filthy dog feces and eaten by mice." But it is for the public. Meanwhile, the "best choice" is already underway, and buys the best, as we are assured all the newspapers, Christina Gmurzhinska.

And Abarov and Buze, and instill aware of the feelings that nourish Khardzhiev and Chaga to its Cologne "benefactress. Nevertheless, the original drawings for "A Tale of about two square" El Lissitzky and more than two dozen of his works, 4 small paintings of Malevich and his Supremacist composition "White Cross" is sent to Cologne.
In this "second wave" of works from the collection Khardzhiev who got Gmurzhinskoy, and was a big picture of Malevich's "Peasant Woman". Last summer, one of the authors of this article, I saw a picture in the New York office of his new owner - a former U.S. ambassador to Austria and the owner of one of the largest perfume companies of Ronald Lauder (son of Estee Lauder). At the same time "king of beauty and a passionate collector is the chairman of the board of trustees of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and manages the team dealing with the problems of abducted during the war of artistic works created by the International Jewish Congress. In the figure, Lauder purchased one of 6 paintings by Malevich, who Gmurzhinska bought in bulk for 2.5 million. According to British newspaper The Art Newspaper, the picture Lauder cost 7 million dollars. To the remark of the author's most scandalous stories associated with the masterpieces from the collection of Malevich Khardzhiev, millionaire silent. Then the author did not know that the famous collector received an invitation to join the Foundation Council, which could serve as a grave cover for further sales. But the former diplomat, was careful and refused.


(Ronald Lauder became famous in Russia that recently in New York, he gave the Deputy Minister of Culture Pavel Khoroshilova Kiprensky painting "Portrait of the Basin", which belongs to the Russian Museum and the missing in the Crimea during the war. The painting was sold in 1996 at a charity auction organized by the Government of Austria, together with the auction house Christie (see "Results"#14, 1998). Unfortunately, this philanthropic move clouded by the fact that the collection Lauder are still two works by Malevich, illegally exported from Russia.)

While the "best" end up quietly from Amsterdam to Cologne and then across the ocean, the fund has been active in negotiations with the new Deputy Minister of Culture Pavel Khoroshilova of "softening" with Russia. Agreement was eventually reached.
Privat promised to restore Russia's archives, three pictures (Malevich, Rozanova, Tatlin), and two drawings by Malevich. But this time the scandal broke unplanned.

Christina Gmurzhinska showed work Lisitsky purchased from the fund, at the Cologne Art Fair, and then, as newspapers, sold them to the buyer, whose name is still unknown. The German and Dutch press showered Fund Khardzhiev - fungus hail of questions about his right to sell the collection.

At this time in the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam was an exhibition of 79 paintings from the collection of Malevich Khardzhiev, organized by the fund. During the press conference devoted to this event, Priva had to explain the policy of "preserving the best." The hall was and the Deputy Minister of Culture Pavel Khoroshilov, which for the sake of that cut short his vacation. Khoroshilov said that participates in a press conference as a private person. According to press reports, he struck all the two statements. The Deputy Minister said that he could not assert that the collection Khardzhiev was removed from the country illegally. In addition, he announced that in future Russia's claims to the fund will not.



exchange?

In 1997, history took a new Khardzhiev unexpected turn. In October, the then Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin visited the Netherlands on an official visit. During the visit, he expressed concern regarding the collection and archive Khardzhiev. As written by Dutch newspaper, the prime minister made it clear that the only solution to this issue will break the deadlock over talks on the fate of the collection of the banker Koenigs. (Drawings by Durer, Holbein and other old masters of this collection, purchased by Hitler in Rotterdam in 1945, fell into the hands of Stalin's trophy brigades. Now they are in the Pushkin Museum of Fine.)

On the recommendation of the Dutch authorities to the Board of the Fund introduced new members: former Minister of Justice Jacob de Router and former director of the Stedelijk Museum Henk van Os. Dutch financial police launched an audit of the Fund. However, Dutch authorities have clearly overdue.
By that time, Boris Abarov, taking, as the newspaper Volkskrant, about 5 million dollars, was in New Zealand. Jan Buze with far less impressive sum of one million went to France. Only notary Privas stayed in Amsterdam and is now responsible for issues of new members of the Fund and Dutch officials.

Interesting that at the beginning of the investigation and collection of archives were not in bank vaults and in museum stores, and in stock, posted on the territory of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. What are they doing there - remains a mystery.

Now legacy Khardzhiev is in the Stedelijk museum's storerooms. Perhaps there it will remain. At the moment the Dutch side is ready to return to Russia archive, but no collection. Many believe that the fate of the collection Khardzhiev now linked with the fate of the collection of Koenigs. Fate hardzhievskogo legacy will be defined not only in the offices of The Hague, but also on the board of fund Khardzhiev - fungus, which continues to be the estate of a scientist and his wife. The Dutch authorities, of course, have an influence on the board, but it is unlikely they can dictate their will. One way would be to hand Russia's proposal to exchange a collection of Koenigs hardzhievskie treasures. But it is doubtful whether Russia officials would dare to violate svezhepodpisanny president of the Law on Restitution. The law declares all "trophy art treasures, including a collection of Koenigs, the inalienable property of Russia.

With the participation of Dina Goder and Marina Golubovska

Source: "Results", № 19, 1998, we published October 4, 2007
  http://www.stengazeta.net/article.html?article=3836

The first impression of journalism - a terrible stench, which emit a tiny sugar factory in the vicinity of the editorial board. Stinking pulp - if you do not know what it is and is not necessary. In the same year moved to the Donbass. In the "Voice of the miners, factory newspaper mine them. Egor Abakumov, wrote his first satirical piece. Few years later re-read - disgusting horrible. In the Lviv oblast newspaper "Vilna Ukraina" has published hundreds of satirical articles. Was mastered singing in Lviv Ukrainian Mova. By chance was taken in "crocodile", but seven years later, naturally expelled - a satirical piece "So to whom are we?" According to Ukrainian Central Committee, I cast a shadow on the Regional Party Committee of the Poltava region. Another quarter of a century he wrote satirical articles for the "Izvestia", unaware that the service will conclude our own correspondents in America. After the collapse of the old "Izvestia" good Americans invited the director of a tiny television radiofirmy called WMNB. Service exploiters confirmed that the whole world - a huge Soviet Union, simply parthozaktiv in each country called in their own way. Ordenonenosets. Recipient of several prestigious awards of the now existing states and creative unions. In the ledger Who is who in America to me six years in a row devoted four and a half lines bold nonpareil. He returned home with joy, which gradually grew into disgust. The impression is smoothed by the fact that my wife - Olga, daughter - Olga, and granddaughter - Olga, too.
http://www.ej.ru/?a=author&id=45

In the most recent years of his long secret life of the eternal and the poor beggar struck many millions of dollars. Not that the clear sky, but - almost.

He is so trusted them! In it, who despised money, suddenly awakened premonition of rest and will have only two possible outcomes - when there's no money at all or when they are enough.

When he appeared many millions, he was sure - enough. But the incredible happened. His millions rebelled. They betrayed the master. These millions taken away from it all. First - the essence of life. Then - joy of life. Then - the life thing.

Now these big money to finish off the memory of his life. The fact that he only managed to do. One of the whole of Russia. One of the world. For this case, he sacrificed love, fatherhood, siblings, friends and girlfriends. For the sake of Russian avant-garde, the great artistic movements, which in the early twentieth century saw hooliganism, vypendrivaniem and heroism of feeble mind, he without hesitation sacrificed all the joys and benefits that may be bestowed upon his long and 93-year-old life.

And now the money finished off a good memory of him. Why are there good! Just memory. Just the information that was, say, on this earth Russian intellectual Nikolai Ivanovich Khardzhiev. What is he starving and freezing, but saved for posterity the memory of the incomparable Miguet Russian culture. Today no one to grieve at the abandoned Russian graves in Amsterdam. And former erased in the public consciousness without a trace, if an electronic eraser on a computer sketch. It remains only something about the millions and something about customs.

However, and this notoriety quickly fades. The main reason is that the memorial wreath Nicholas Khardzhiev though looked evergreen, but the suites, he was not the laurels. Of the bucks.

But less greenback rustling in his wreath, more recently, such a lavish and lush. Too many people stroked this coveted green sticky hands. Art critics, ministers, well-wishers, notaries, professional provocateurs, close friends, experts on Russian avant-garde, the robbers, the bankers, merchants, journalists, housewives cute, thinking about his future, customs officers, officials on both sides of a "cultural curtain" ...

Together, they soon raznesut recent flyers on their bank accounts, and then the name of the martyr Russia's culture forever rest in piles of fossilized dung information.

And if anyone in koi ever touch a shovel in disgust this sintered product secondary, and then appear before the descendants of the righteous, not a hero, whom we all owe, but very, very bad man. Predator and ignorant. Psychopath with a thieving proclivities. Ham, a coward and insufferable braggart. Slacker. Moaner and rogue. Army deserter, or, at best, a clever malingerer.

And, stroking his conscience on the wool, will repeat the fastidious historians almost gnomic curse that sent the famous widow, Nadezhda Mandelstam slightly less famous victim was the poet, his once-fearless savior: "Nikolai Khardzhiev (SOB), a eunuch and loot."

This image is advantageous to almost all who were involved in the last years of his life. But to allow such a development history can not. And not just because the curse of their Nadezhda Mandelstam sent in some years, when he had to hurry with the manuscripts to please the keen interest that erupted to her husband, the publishers of the West.

And then, immediately after the arrest of Osip, when it proceeded on behalf of the chilling horror of belonging, who gave her his bachelor rookery in Shabby komnatuhe? Kohl Khardzhiev. He fed her sausages, otpaival tea and slip into chocolate. And she was every chocolate, which, choked with tears, not feeling taste, swallowing his future oblichitelnitsa, just worth a hungry young writer a week - without work and without income, without friends, though a little richer or more influential than himself.

Marina Tsvetaeva and Anna Akhmatova met only once, as they say, himself. And it is all in the same squalid lair Khardzhiev, one of the few places in Moscow, where there lived a quiet courage.

But no, not at all why the name of Nikolai Ivanovich should be assigned to the most esteemed in Russia of the twentieth century. Fate sent him a historic mission, and he did it brilliantly. He more than any other man in the world, is obliged to Russian avant-garde for their salvation.

And only when it became clear that his beloved avant-garde out of mortal danger, Nikolai Ivanovich Khardzhiev began to think about his salvation.

ESCAPE Amsterdam

No matter how hard I try, I can not avoid this painful vision. Sheremetyevo-2, Monday, November 8, 1993-th. Khardzhiev 91 per year. He was tall, his back almost straight. From under the broad, shrubs vrazlet eyebrows somewhere forward directed unblinking gaze. Lidiya Chaga, wife of 84 years, flexible and agile, a former ballerina, casually chatting with Willem Vistshteynom. Professor of Russian Language and Literature, University of Amsterdam. The professor is young, but because hardzhievsky suitcase gets heavy to carry him.

They stand, waiting for landing, waiting for the flight to Holland, the city of Amsterdam.

Why in Amsterdam - more on that later. We are checking passports. 'll Do not come? .. Khardzhiev invited to a congress, but this is just an excuse. In the hands of an elderly couple's passports with temporary visas. But both know that in his Moscow apartment, they will not return ever.

This "never" tortured them. About life abroad, they dreamed of for decades. Twice plans disrupted. Twice robbed. As Europeans: kindly, smiling, shamelessly and brutally. Is this not the third time? If so, then if they wanted to return they will simply nowhere. All that they had already loaded into boxes, Sveza somewhere in the not known to them the place. From this point, surreptitiously breaking the boundary, which has the world's largest castle, the unique collection should again come to them in Amsterdam in all its splendor invaluable.

And if you see? Maybe not too late to return everything to their seats and try to squeeze into this new and terrible life in Russia? Just out of the tanks fired at the Duma. They killed hundreds of people. Or thousands? The door of their apartment, which stores an invaluable, easy to knock out arm bandit average fatness. Where to look for protection, if only forces left here on this bag with drugs? That's why I standing next Willem Vistshteyn. The young professors nice smile, but such a terrible Russian pronunciation that thought Khardzhiev dvoyatsya. When a word is uttered - no, like a decent, for the abomination of long-term view would have found a villain without an accent. How grinned gentle smile of encouragement - well, typical European thief, even with a half-way to return home.

But here, life will not. The apartment is still there, but not at home. So far, their salvation was obscurity. But in recent years, news of the collection Khardzhiev, about his collection of rare paintings and manuscripts of Russian avant-garde is becoming increasingly common in Moscow, Russia, around the world. Visions of one another all the more horrible haunt Nikolai Ivanovich. The thought that his precious treasure, so masterfully uberezhennye more than half a century, from the Cheka-OGPU-NKVD-MGB-MVD-KGB, that all these rotten leaves, yellowing photographs, drawings and frayed strewn across paintings that for decades he cradled in his hands, cover of darkness of loneliness may become a thing even vile bureaucrats from the Russian Museum, and the stupid bandit ... No, even the thought is intolerable ... Better hurry to board the plane, and then go into a clean European terminal and clear: "Fraternal greetings to you, ladies and musyu!"

Well, then, after "musyu? In the articles on the forefront, which are sometimes published in the West, Nikolai Ivanovich, as befits a scientist, made numerous footnotes to the English-, French-, Germanic-, Italian-and God knows what is multilingual sources. But could speak only in Russian. This is not a fraud case. Among the scientists is very common special knowledge of foreign languages: reading and common sense to know how to catch, but say a word or a rumor that some perceive - the problem simply unbearable. Nikolai Ivanovich was just such.

His wife was a child in France, but retained in memory only "sorry".

But they yearned for a life without fear that would leave Europe and with this pitiful vocabulary. Especially since the arrival of the collection of hope remained strong. A collection too ... Yes that there the whole collection, even a small part of it ... This ensured the life of the well-fed, gentle, respectable.

Both spouses were not too young, and yet driven by the thought of death, realized how little suited to them the concept of "long". And so it happened. Khardzhiev died in Amsterdam with the same temporary visas. Nikolai Ivanovich - two years, Lidiya - six months earlier. People are very old age, nothing unnatural.

Estestv otherwise contrary: after a magical dream come true, after the appearance of abundant bank accounts in Switzerland and the Netherlands, after buying a three-storey house in a quiet part of Amsterdam, Nikolai lie on the bed in his room on the second floor in disgust, turn away from the window (from Holland? From Europe? from non-country?) face to the wall and so prolezhit until his death.

House on Olimpiyapleyn, 55 chose Lidiya. She, a former ballerina with rostochkom vershochek, flexible, like a cat, liked the steep spiral staircase between floors, making the elevator (been there and your home elevator), it is almost never used. With this ladder and it falls on Nov. 7, 1996 and died at the hands of the first kind, and then the suspect and her scampish immigrant from Russia. She squandered untold money and hours talking on the phone with the Moscow acquaintances, and they remember it well-directed review of Holland, from which emanate anger and anguish: "Much like a shallow plate with tulips, tulips and tulips again."

This point of departure from Sheremetyevo - as the peak of Greek tragedy. It seems to choose their own future, but everything is predetermined by higher forces.

After six hours they were in the coveted Amsterdam, the best room in the Hilton. Vase with fruit, wine, chocolates, of course, a bouquet of tulips, dinner in the room - all paid for. And so it is now and go. Henceforth and forever for them - all paid for.

Whom? Why? For what?

WHY Harjit?

The last two and a half years of Nikolai Ivanovich Khardzhiev, since he became a foreign millionaire, describes almost every minute. Russian newspapers and magazines, foreign newspapers and magazines, television, books.

Ordeals and suffering Nicholas Khardzhiev throughout most of Soviet rule remain in impenetrable darkness. The impression is, if anyone is seriously interested. Though I must say immediately that any, to choose a week in Amsterdam Khardzhiev easier to describe and explore, than any of the nine decades he spent in the Soviet Union.


His biography is easy to fit in a paragraph of medium size. Born Kahovka in 1903. His father was an Armenian, his mother - a Greek from the Turkish city of Smyrna. They met in Odessa, where Nicholas in the 21 years of age came and trained as a lawyer (in what institution - it is not clear). Lawyer did not work a second, dreamed of literature, but make sure not to have a special talent, gave himself (and, as later turned out, the rest of life) study of the Russian avant-garde. In the literature of his idols once and for all become Khlebnikov, torsion, Harms, in art - Malevich, Tatlin, Larionov.

But the main shield against the ills of life in Soviet times was Mayakovsky. We Khardzhiev, generally a very stingy on the written word, about Mayakovsky wrote the most books and articles. But it is doubtful whether he liked Mayakovsky as ardently and tenderly as he adored and admired Mr. Klebnikov Harms. After 1935, when a letter from the poet's mistress Lili Brik appeared the famous Stalinist resolution: "Mayakovsky was and remains the best, most talented poet of our Soviet epoch, around each row of the recent futurist crowding is a dense ring of commentators that the non-partisan and socially passive Khardzhiev break a number of literary generals still would not have succeeded. And all interpretation Mayakovsky was given at the mercy is the highest literary rank.

Once to Victor Shklovsky (one of these generals) had left his wife Sophia Khardzhiev Narbut, his lot for many years to become loneliness, poverty, dirty shirts, thin boots. Most likely, this time should include the beginning of his collection on the history of Russian avant-garde - art and literature during the early twentieth century, which by the end of this century ascended to the heights of commercial triumph in the West.

But then the end of the century was still almost a century. In the 29 th year, Kazimir Malevich made a step which, experts believe, made him the most expensive later Russian avant-garde artist. Asked to go to an exhibition in Warsaw, he went to Berlin and left there about a hundred of his best works. Hoped to return, but the Soviet Union were on Malevich's other plans. Six years later, just sat there, Malevich died in incredible poverty. The government has denied a former professor in a modest increase in pauper's pension and blocked from traveling abroad to try to escape from cancer.

If in Berlin Malevich offered $ 20 for the painting, he thought it would be a deal happier. Most recently, one of the abandoned works in Berlin, "Supremacist composition", was sold at auction for 21 million dollars.

With all the fantastic ingenuity and virtuosity of the work of the great Russian avant-garde Filonova auction value of his works is not close to the paintings of Malevich. According to one art critic for The Washington Post, here affected by the fact that Filonov was a little more understandable to the Soviet arts bureaucracy, making it more likely to buy in domestic museums, and, consequently, fewer were exported to the West. Kazimir Malevich in the Soviet Union feared less, why he does not dwell in the vaults, and became available for the world. Almost half a century hung Suprematist works by Kazimir Malevich in the walls of the famous Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York and the Museum "Stedeliyk" in Amsterdam, before they reached the current price exorbitant figures.

In 1933, when Malevich, already banished from teaching, is still enthusiastically worked in his Leningrad studio, his paintings were affordable for the average employee.

Then I bought them Khardzhiev? Let us say at once: no one knows. Khardzhiev never tell anyone, as he became the owner of eight paintings by Malevich and many of his drawings and sketches. But we know that it was at the request of Khardzhiev Malevich wrote his only surviving (alas, unfinished) autobiography. We also know that at the beginning of 30-year Khardzhiev with two of his equally young colleagues took to write the history of Russian avant-garde, which became involved in a lively and not a futile correspondence with the key witness for the avant-garde events.

From artists and poets, their relatives and friends of active participants and random events, three young researchers have received many notes, afishek, clippings from newspapers all perished, memories. All this would have cost nothing, and indeed about the commercial side of the project once it would be ridiculous to stutter. Khardzhiev friends picked up the fact that everything felt almost no debris, but they - and only they - the priceless evidence of history. But to capitalize on this "debris" could perhaps only trouble.

Death of Kazimir Malevich coincided with another straightening artistic policy of the Party and government. Mayakovsky forgive his youthful pranks, but other futurists strongly driven out of "multinational soviet art". Genius Klebnikov not even studied at Faculty of Philology. Name Malevich was not in the most detail encyclopaedias. Larionov (left Russia in 1914) until the end of the Khrushchev "thaw" ceased to be a traitor. Ender, Guro, Matyushin, Goncharova, Chekrygin (the first illustrator of Mayakovsky) - all of this constellation of talent was reflected in the official mirror dimmer than realism Reshetnikova or obedient innovation Saryan.

Nikolai Khardzhiev official ecstasy had no effect. Stiffness estimates and invariance in deep worship of the same creators were inherent in him still in a very young age. Later, by the end of the 60's when he becomes very famous among the elect, and completely unknown to the general public, it would be called intolerance, hysteria, anger.

Indeed, the list of those to whom Nicholas Khardzhiev denied in his artistic sympathies, was very extensive. These included not only treated kindly by the authorities Soviet realists. Khardzhiev, for example, denied a famous Kandinsky innovator of belonging to the Russian avant-garde, stubbornly believing it "German". Chagall was for him too rational. Rodchenko had no relation to art.

Although the 37-th year is traditionally considered the peak of Soviet repression, Khardzhiev tried to distance themselves from the authorities as far as possible in the early 30's. His passion for collecting old papers and absurd mazilok that have recently been the essence of the youth revolution in art, while the NKVD was not interested.

The project to create the history of Russian avant-garde, for which the 30-m was enthusiastically seized upon by Nicholas Khardzhiev, Vladimir Trenin and Theodore Gritts, the beginning of 30's played out perfectly. Collaborators Khardzhiev considered it necessary to wait until better times. Gritts soon lost interest in the idea, but with the death of V. Trenin in 1942, all of them has collected personal archives Khardzhiev, which he tirelessly filled up one of his well-known methods.

Care (or exile?) First wife ever formed deeply secretive, reclusive Khardzhiev. He never amounted to an inventory of his collection, entirely relying on a brilliant memory. He never anyone, under any pretext, never let the collection thing. He developed the habit of clear-cut: in the presence of strangers (and strangers were all without a single exception), he had read any book, pressing her to his chest and covering his hands title.

Hella Rottenberg Dutch journalist who wrote an action, rather controversial, but so far the only book on Khardzhiev, argues that bad character Khardzhiev even saved him from arrest in 1937.

In general, the intolerable nature Khardzhiev all researchers have devoted much attention. Or too much. Rottenberg, who has long been Moscow's own correspondents prominent Dutch newspaper, describes the "hruschobnuyu" 2-bedroom apartment on the street Khardzhiev Kropotkin, now Prechistenka as "hole, in which he lived like a rat." On the walls of this "hole" hung works by Malevich ( "Red Square"), Rozanova, Guro, Filonov. "Red Square" hanging in front of a desk Khardzhiev always and always. Other images yielded their place to new. At one time over the door hung "Three bather Malevich, then they changed lithography El Lissitzky.

When the house manager's office conducted throughout the house renovated for apartments Khardzhiev exception was made. "Khardzhiev rolled such a scandal that the neighbors, house management and even the authorities did not dare to touch him and persuade," - wrote Hella Rottenberg. I believe that, despite its solid experience in Moscow, a Dutch journalist still can not imagine the level of the kindness of our neighbors, our house managements of humanity, and the actions of our authorities (including other key episodes) attached to them is not peculiar to humanity. Based on the description Rottenberg, everything was simpler. By the early 70's Khardzhiev was already in a position to give a bribe - a bribe for him and not evicted from the apartment during the overhaul.

But all this happened much later that tragicomic episodes, which H. Rottenberg presents a seriously fun for us. She writes that in 1937 Khardzhiev was ordered to appear in the secret service. He behaved ... very self-confident and brought out the patience of those few who questioned him. " Can you imagine Chekist late 30's, which "enraged" interrogated? Or, more precisely, imagine how would look the person questioned, that their self-confidence derived from the Cheka itself?

Held whether the two scandal - is doubtful. But no doubt not is the fact that from the mid 30's to late 60's, Nicholas Khardzhiev formed the basis of its archive on the history of Russian fine and literary avant-garde, the archive, which cost the majority of experts assesses the way: from $ 150 million to -- "priceless.

But the Soviet state to the archive had no relation. "Despite his (Khardzhiev) passion for the forbidden art of the Soviet authorities as a whole did not touch Khardzhiev" - wrote Hella Rottenberg. This assertion is more than any inaccuracy or stupidity. This is a complete misunderstanding of the role of the Soviet law enforcement agencies in the system of Soviet art. Khardzhiev not be touched because he was invisible, inaudible, that not for one moment relaxed for half a century - from Yezhov repression through Khrushchev's struggle with "pidirasami" to the lazy, but always greedy of Brezhnev's stagnation.

In short, the Soviet authorities did not impose a paw on the archive Khardzhiev only because unaware of its existence. Missed. Stukach goof. For all this, our government will get more from conservative journalists, who need to remove, disrupt epaulettes, to deprive the chairs of all, who could not take away from Khardzhiev Khardzhiev.

So many millions of lost, so necessary for our people in the industrialization of ... that is, ugh, retired unfortunate elderly.

MAKE A MILLION

In fact, from the poor to become rich is easy. This requires a bit of money, a lot of patience and infinite faith.

Start collecting leaves. Every day in the rain and a bucket, when heat and frost collect leaves near Moscow. Read poltyschi best books on the theory drevesnyh crowns. Gently in the scientific and lay them on a daily basis in a herbarium. Describe the changes, analyze the causes. Do not miss a single day for 60 years. Then put his herbarium with a description of the exhibition. You - a millionaire.


Or buy the "Moskvich" - a machine whose world is worthless never seen. Dismantle it and enter it in pieces in a room of their two-room "Khrushchev" apartment. Daily wipe, twisted, lubricate. Fight with every spot on the varnish. Turns away, wrap the nuts in order to achieve a compliant smoothness. After 75 years, taken at an auto show. You - a millionaire.

Do not believe me? So you're not from Khardzhiev.

He lived a long life, many important points which is almost impossible to explain. Leave aside the Cheka, which allegedly discouraged Khardzhiev their ugly behavior at the interrogation. But the war ... My father, the same age Khardzhiev, also a member of the Writers' Union, also a literary critic, but also the dean of the University of Odessa, but also a PhD, was mobilized on the second day. And, of course, soon died.

Khardzhiev, healthy young man without a definite occupation, was not even sent to dig trenches, because (illustrated by his friend) "suddenly fell ill with pneumonia." Pneumonia - a disease no boy, but the explanation once again sound like something too as Europeans. "In the trenches" chased even pregnant mothers of families - who would have thought it dismiss the young athlete's growth under the ninety-meter?

More - more. Throughout the war Khardzhiev quietly sat consultant to some of the capital's film studios, evacuated to Alma-Ata. So says his biography, but in this explanation I did not believe the letter. In Alma-Ata, as in other cities, often rounded up. Covered their even those who are accidentally left in a different jacket ( "But it's here, just around the corner") his "book". I immediately sent into the fiery maw of the front.

Why Khardzhiev not get into it - a mystery. What exactly did the "Studio" - a mystery. Where at that time was his archive (then still mostly literary, but still hefty) - also a mystery that has no one to reveal to anyone.

I do not think that Khardzhiev in this regard had any pangs of conscience. This was a man of integrity flint. He was firmly convinced that the very fate appointed him to be a guardian angel Russian avant-garde. And more to fulfill this mission, just anybody.

Therefore Khardzhiev cruelly interrupted in everything that prevented this historical mission. And tenderly cherishing even those features that everyone around him seemed loathsome (and often were such), but could prevent the preservation of all these leaflets programmok recordings on napkins, the outline on the back of the envelope.

"I hate wives"

Khardzhiev was an inexhaustible storyteller and a witty, charming conversationalist, affable host - well, just flavor. That's when he thought it necessary to someone like.

Khardzhiev was unbearable insolent, debilitating extortionists, impudent, a boor and despot, to whom do not reach the simplest and most compelling arguments.

By the end of life he no longer friends - it all their hurt and dispersed. He had no family left - he refused even to those without whom it may simply would not have survived in its difficult years.

About once a month, he brought his sister, Helen laundry. And it was not incidental postirushka, remembers his nephew Khardzhiev. It was hard work, as worn clothes in need of repeated evaporation, otherwise it will remain dirty. At the same time Khardzhiev frosted from her sister's house something edible, even though he knew that the family and that she did not get out of need.

When Helen died, her son telephoned Khardzhiev. Tube took Lydia Chaga, by the time his wife and mistress of external relations of her husband. "The younger sister? - Asked in surprise Chaga. - Nikolai Ivanovich no sisters.

Khardzhiev masterfully suck up to those who have discovered something more or less significant for the history of Russian avant-garde. "Well, why do you? - Friendly rebuke he holder. - You're still losing. It is better to give me, and I'll give you the first sign. If persuasion acted Khardzhiev stayed nice and polite - but only up to the seconds, until the owner has requested his property back. At this point Khardzhiev gave vent to my liking: quarreled terribly beat backhand, played all sorts of scenes - but did not return a borrowed item.

Merely Nadezhda Mandelstam managed to return the manuscript of her husband, which she gave Khardzhiev for the preparation of a compendium. This year it took a humiliating correspondence and mobilization of three muscular young fellows, who promised Khardzhiev smash all his lair and break his neck. Khardzhiev terribly frightened, brought out all at once, in his arms and folders - but at the same time managed not to return about a third of the most valuable manuscripts.

"I hate women" - he admitted in one of the very rare interviews. Khardzhiev was convinced that it was his wife prevented him recreate a complete history of Russian avant-garde. The word "wife" he was talking very broadly, including here, except their wives and widows, and all those who insist on the possession of objects of art only on the basis of biological closeness to the Creator. Khardzhiev easily come to the anger of this injustice, when the outstanding works fall into the hands of relatives, nothing in the arts do not understand.

According to one legend, to which he Khardzhiev may put his hand up, the daughter of Kasimir Malevich Una, one of the indisputable heirs to the now endless number of applicants, she asked naively Khardzhiev: - Well, my dad really was a good painter?

- The greatest! - Answered Khardzhiev inspiration. He was very fond of Unu. But if she wrote a book about her father with an analysis of his work, he would have criticized her in tatters.

For it was not successful works of Malevich and Khlebnikov, if their author was not himself. But it did not matter until he was bezvesten. With fame came enemies. True.

(To be completed.)