Abakumov I. B., Nikulin A. M. “And then I saw a completely different side of agriculture” // The Russian Peasant Studies. 2026. V.11. №2. P. 208-230.
EDN: USLHJB
Annotation
This the first part of Igor Borisovich Abakumov’s biographical interview, which begins with his story about family roots, childhood and youth, then describes his choice of journalism as a profession and the stages of his journalistic career — first at the newspaper “Leninskoe Znamya [Lenin’s Banner]” and then at the newspaper “Izvestia [News]” — with the focus on rural journalism. In the interview, Abakumov considers the evolution of rural Russia during perestroika under the political-ideological struggle about economic reforms and the AKKOR [Association of Russia’s Peasant Households (Farms) and Agricultural Cooperatives]; describes the unique Dutch-Russian farming project implemented on the eve of the collapse of the USSR and its difficult history. Another remarkable project discussed in the interview is the leading post-Soviet agricultural newspaper “Krestyanskie Vedomosti [Peasant Newspaper]”, whose founder and Editor-in-Chief was Abakumov. This part of the interview concludes with reflections on the ups and downs in the post-Soviet transformation of the rural mass media, not only newspapers but also television and online media, in connection with the fate of the well-known Soviet-era television program “Selsky Chas [Rural Hour]”. Throughout the interview, Abakumov focuses on the relationship between the individual, society, power institutions and the media.
Keywords
Kin, family, rural Russia, “Izvestia” newspaper, perestroika, AKKOR, farmers, “Krestyanskie Vedomosti”, “Selsky Chas”.
About the authors
Igor B. Abakumov, PhD (Economics), Head of the “Krestyanskie Vedomosti” media group. Savvа Morozov St., 1, Zhelyabino village, Krasnogorsk urban district, 143430, Moscow Region. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Alexander M. Nikulin, PhD (Economics), Head of the Center for Agrarian Studies, Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. 119571, Moscow, Vernadskogo Prosp, 82.
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
