The Russians have lost the war

I liked Lithuania so much that I decided to write another piece.

During the project meeting, while discussing research details, historical and sociological topics came up more often during dinner.

Naturally, themes of Russia, Stalin, the World War, and communism kept weaving through our glasses, passing back and forth between us.

Then, the name Aytmatov came up at the table.

I wanted to ask if they knew him.

My Poplar in My Red Scarf.

Everyone knew him.

They had read Aytmatov way back in primary school, during the communist era, whereas I had only watched the film starring Kadir İnanır and Türkan Şoray.

I was, of course, surprised by my own ignorance.

They had read books by this Turkish author—whose name I had only learned in recent years—when they were still children.

What an iron curtain that was, my friend; not even a sliver of light leaked through for us to know there was a famous Turkish author far away.

Since they know Aytmatov so well, I decided to stop by a bookstore the next day and buy a book in Lithuanian.

I sometimes buy a book in the language of the country I visit, just as a souvenir.

Because the night had been long, I couldn't leave the hotel until the afternoon.

Since I was staying at the Oldtown hotel, I found bookstores as soon as I stepped out.

The young woman in the first bookstore I entered didn't understand the subject at all.

She said no and sent me away.

It was as if she were hearing the name Aytmatov for the first time.

In another one, the person was of an age to have grown up during the communist era, like our project partners; she first said no.

When I insisted, she frowned, and I realized I needed to leave the shop.

After receiving similar reactions from the other bookstores I visited, I realized that the Russians can no longer hold their ground in this geography.

They have been cast out, never to return.