11 - Interview with Olga Grjasnowa

Summary

KATJA GARLOFF/AGNES MUELLER: We'd like to ask you some questions mainly about your first novel, Der Russe ist einer der Birken liebt, but also about your entire oeuvre, and about your self-perception as a writer.

In what ways does Jewish identity relate to other—ethnic— identities, in Azerbaijan, but also in Germany? What is the relationship between Azerbaijani identity and Russian identity, and how does Judaism play into this? How does Jewish identity become visible?

OLGA GRJASNOWA: The territories of the former Soviet Union and for example Western Europe are marked by great differences, because they are completely different systems. At least for the territory of the former Soviet Union everything was regulated in relatively basic terms. Judaism was considered an ethnic classification whether or not it was practiced religiously. It was written into peoples’ passports as their “nationality.” As a result, many questions never even came up. You were Jewish because your passport said so. It was determined by the birth certificate. In Germany, on the other hand, everything is a lot more complicated, also as a result of the Holocaust. There is a specifically determined image of Jews and Judaism, and that is the one of the Ashkenazi Jews. Even though this is only a small part of Judaism, it is used as a placeholder for the entirety of Judaism. People often do not want to see that the term is actually describing a much wider concept. In Germany, Judaism seems very much defined from the outside.

KG/AM: In what ways does especially Azerbaijan—a very important place in your novel—play an important role for Judaism in general?

OG: Azerbaijan was an important place during the reign of the Soviet Union. Azerbaijan was important not only because of its role during World War II, but also as a result of the pogroms during Jewish settlement conflicts, because Jews considered it a safe territory. They either tried to get through to Palestine, or they went to Azerbaijan.

KG/AM: Do you think German readers of your novel are aware of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan?

OG: No, and that was one of the main reasons to write the novel the way I did.