Novaya Gazeta Europe asked Mikhail Shishkin, founder of the Dar Prize, what he thought about it being recognized as a foreign agent.
— В русскоязычном интернете сейчас все шутят, что если теперь «иноагентами» делают литературные премии, то недалеко и до объявления иноагентами книг как таковых, жанров литературы и даже сортов овощей и фруктов. Какие ощущения у вас от лидерства в данной области?
— Another “recognition” from a fascist state — dubious leadership, don't you think? I would simply ignore all the words they spew out there. These are their internal affairs, in which I have no desire to interfere. These people who support the war — tonight they bombed Kyiv again, killing a 12-year-old girl — are my enemies. Such “recognition” from enemies only proves that we are doing everything right.
— Such legal status is still unpleasant and makes work difficult, especially with people who remain in Russia or have ties to it. In the past our conversation You said that one of the goals of Dar is to maintain connections between Russian-language writers both in Russia and abroad. Will your goals change now?
— The goal setting will not change, but the circumstances have changed.
The recognition of the prize as a foreign agent will affect authors from Russia, who will be afraid to submit their works to the competition. All this was entirely predictable. All this has already happened in “the most literate country in the world.”
The authors wrote in the USSR, but were published under pseudonyms in the free world. And publishing houses there did not have long to remain independent. They will come for everyone.
— You have already warned your colleagues from Russia to participate at their own risk. How will you build relationships with them now? Ask for pseudonyms? Refuse money from Russia? (One of the important parts of the Dar Prize is a paid reader vote, where the winners receive an amount “gifted” to them by readers. — Ed.)
— In the 21st century, we want to talk about personal responsibility, not collective responsibility. Nothing has changed, and if authors want to participate in the award, who can stop them? It's just that those who stayed there found themselves in a time machine and returned to the USSR. Writers decide for themselves whether to publish under a pseudonym or their own name. For some, this may be an act of resistance. We didn't accept money from Russia anyway.
— Aren't you afraid of drifting toward an “immigrant” award in this regard?
What Are the Objectives of the Award?
The primary goal of the Award is to support authors and promote Russian-language literature worldwide. We welcome all who write and read in Russian, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. We aim to foster a Russian-language culture free from political and imperial influences.
How Is the Award Process Conducted?
The Award is given annually. The jury votes, with each member selecting between one and three works. The winner is the author whose work receives the most votes. Additionally, a reader’s vote (Crowdfunding) is conducted on the Award’s website, where readers can vote for authors and support them financially.
What Awards Are Provided?
The winner of the Award receives a grant to translate the work into English, French and German. Also, as part of the reader's vote, all collected funds are transferred to the authors for whom the readers voted.
When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?
Прием заявок на конкурс второго сезона премии начнется 1 сентября 2025-го и закончится 15-го октября 2025 года.
When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?
В январе 2026 года Совет Экспертов объявит список финалистов. Читательское голосование начинается в тот же месяц. В феврале-апреле члены жюри читают книги-финалисты, а победителей Премии и читательского голосования объявят в мае 2026 года.
What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award
В конкурсе второго сезона могут принимать участия произведения, изданные в 2024-м году. Произведения (роман, повесть, сборники рассказов и эссе, документальная проза), вышедшие отдельными изданиями или опубликованные в журналах. Номинировать на премию имеют право как издательства и редакции журналов, так и сами писатели или третьи лица (с согласия и письменного подтверждения автора). Тексты подаются к рассмотрению в электронном виде. Премия «Дар» открыта для всех авторов. Учитывая главные цели премии: продвижение современной русскоязычной литературы за пределами РФ и характер самого вознаграждение (грант на перевод) - приоритет будет отдаваться авторам, чьи произведения ранее не переводились на английский, французский и немецкий языки.
