Baku was visited by a Moscow delegation, which took part in the commemorative events on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the national leader Heydar Aliyev and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. The delegation included people who during the period of Heydar Aliyev's work in Moscow were his associates, worked together with him. Day.Az reports this with reference to Trend.
The first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Azerbaijan SSR, Heydar Aliyev, after successful activities from 1969 to 1982 as head of the republic, was invited by the leader of the USSR, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU Yuri Andropov to work in Moscow, was elected a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU, was appointed First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. In this post, Heydar Aliyev also achieved great success, gaining great prestige and recognition. In those years, next to Heydar Aliyev there were people who to this day celebrate the high human qualities of this person, who inscribed his name in history.
The delegation that visited Baku included Secretary of the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Jamal Jamalov, Deputy Head of the Secretariat of the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Vladimir Ukhov, Assistant to the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR Yuri Solodukhin, Honored Art Worker of the Russian Federation, TV director, former chief director of the news program "Vremya" Kaleria Kislova, Heydar Aliyev's personal doctor Alexander Borodkin, and also a member of the bodyguard an employee of the 9th department of the KGB of the USSR Viktor Nemushkov, a driver, an employee of the 9th department of the KGB of the USSR Vladimir Tupitsyn. They visited the Heydar Aliyev Center, got acquainted with the sights of Baku. We managed to talk with the guests, who shared interesting memories of Heydar Aliyev.
Today we present to Trend readers the memoirs of the legend of Soviet television Kaleriya Venediktovna Kislova.
92-year-old Kaleria Kislova has devoted more than half a century of her life to television. She worked on the creation of many popular programs, was engaged in the preparation of broadcasts of parades and demonstrations on Red Square, international youth and student festivals, competitions for the 1980 Olympics, television bridges, etc. In 1974, she was invited to work in the main editorial office of the information of the Central Television, including those involved in the release of the program "Time", and three years later she became the main director of the program. For about thirty years, Kislova was the chief director of the central news program of the Soviet Union, and later the Russian Federation. In 2006, she resigned from the position of chief director and became a consulting director and is now one of the oldest employees of Channel One. Kaleria Kislova is a laureate of the State Prize of the USSR, an Honored Art Worker of Russia, and has received many state awards.
During her long professional life, Kaleria Kislova worked with the first persons of the USSR and Russia Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin, but it was Heydar Aliyev who, according to her, became for Kislova a special boss, person and good friend.
"Never in my life have I met such a sincere and noble person as Heydar Aliyev. I came to Baku for the first time on September 3, 1978, being the chief director of the Vremya program and the personal director of Leonid Brezhnev. This was on the eve of Leonid Ilyich's visit to Baku. We immediately went to the Lenin Palace (now the Heydar Aliyev Palace), where Brezhnev was supposed to speak, and set up cameras. Then I returned to the hotel, and in the evening the group and I went to a restaurant. There, Elshad Guliyev, deputy chairman of the Azerbaijani TV and Radio Committee, called me to the phone and asked me to come back to the Lenin Palace. It was about twelve at night. Preparations for Brezhnev's visit were carried out almost around the clock. Geidar Alievich gathered in the Lenin Palace a team that was preparing a meeting of the General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, including the film crew of the Central Television. I see all the men in dark suits, dark ties, only white shirts. I was the only woman, and even in a white jacket, and I felt a little embarrassed. During the conversation, Heydar Aliyev unexpectedly approached me and said: "Kaleriya, let's get acquainted", smiled and immediately won me over. I will never forget his friendliness and simplicity. Although even then he held a high post and was the first secretary of the Communist Party of the Azerbaijan SSR. He asked to tell and show the readiness of the equipment, how each camera shoots. Together we looked through all six cameras located in the hall. There were no operators in the hall, and I personally showed how and from what angle the broadcast would go. Heydar Aliyev was a very attentive person and treated journalists, creative personalities and cultural figures with great respect. And then, in his car, we traveled together the entire route of the upcoming movement of Leonid Brezhnev's motorcade around the city, where cameras were placed. Geidar Alievich personally looked at everything, asked such professional questions and gave instructions, pointed out such places of the necessary angles for filming, that I was simply amazed by his knowledge in the field of television! Moreover, he did all this very tactfully, so as not to offend my professional feelings. I knew and worked with all the first secretaries and members of the Politburo of the USSR, traveled to almost all of our republics, but no one ever paid such professional attention to the filming process.", - said Kaleria Kislova.
According to Kaleriya Venediktovna, while preparing for the filming process, Heydar Aliyev asked if she had time to see Baku, stunning in its beauty, and spoke about Azerbaijan with such love that everything was clear without words from his expression and emotions.
At that time, it so happened that Brezhnev fell ill and the visit was postponed.
“Heydar Alievich agreed with the leadership of the Central Television of the USSR that our group would remain in Baku until Brezhnev arrived. And it turned out that instead of three days we stayed in Azerbaijan for a whole month. It was a fabulous and unforgettable month! We were met everywhere with great respect and love. treated Geidar Alievich with great respect.On the day of Brezhnev's arrival, there was a dinner at the residence, and I was invited to it, although in general, according to the protocol, it was not customary to invite a television director. Geidar Alievich was the first to take such a step. When Leonid Ilyich came, Geidar Alievich began to introduce all his people. On the one hand, the guests from Moscow lined up, on the other - the high ranks of Azerbaijan, and I am in the middle. And when they reached me, Geidar Alievich, smiling, said:"And this is our" Miss Television "- Kaleria." It is interesting that Brezhnev did not recognize me at first, apparently he thoughtthat I am the head of Azerbaijani television. And only when they told him that I was from Moscow and "the same Kislova", he was very surprised,kissed me on both cheeks, and after that he always called me "Our" Miss Television ""- said Kaleria Kislova.
Kaleria Kislova next visited Baku at the end of September 1982. Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev arrived in Azerbaijan after a serious illness. This was his last visit to the republics of the Soviet Union. After meeting Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev at the airport, everyone went to the city, where a tribune was organized for the speech.
"Brezhnev got out of the car, but refused to speak, citing health problems. He got back into the car and everyone drove away. For us, it was an emergency situation that required an independent and prompt decision. The whole square was filled with people, and mobile TV cameras stood along the highway to the very residence. And then we decided that the shooting would continue. After that, I edited the material - how the procession should be, how people sing and dance in the square, a grandiose holiday is taking place all over Baku - and all this was shown in the Vremya program. Leonid Ilyich looked and said: "How beautiful it was! But I didn't see it."- said Kaleria Kislova.
After Heydar Aliyev took the post of First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Kaleriya Kislova often traveled with him to various regions of the Union and the capitals of the republics - Tbilisi, Almaty, Kiev, etc., and again saw with her own eyes how warmly he was received by people, with what great attention and care Heydar Aliyev treated them.
"He was an amazing person, for whom, despite the huge state work, the well-being of the country's citizens was important. He often got out of the car and talked to people, in a completely simple way. In those years, none of the country's leadership went out to the people. Geidar Alievich personally got acquainted with people, was interested in their lives, work, wages, delved into all the requests of ordinary workers and gave orders to solve problems. Moreover, Geidar Alievich was the only leader of the former Soviet Union who personally communicated and I even dined and dined with the journalists accompanying him on business trips. He was a very sincere and open person, with his charming smile and sincere attitude towards ordinary people, he was always interested in whether we were eating well, whether we were well arranged, was interested in future plans and helped in everything. I knew all the leaders of the union republics, but Geidar Alievich was special, it was humanly easy and interesting to work with him. Later we traveled all over the USSR for work and I never saw him looking down on someone. He was with each of us on an equal footing, treated with paternal care. For me, these were unforgettable moments of life next to this great personality - kind, sympathetic, cultured, hardworking, who forever remained in my memory as a special boss, person and good friend.", - said Kaleria Kislova.
Kaleria Venediktovna recalls with pain in her heart 1981, when her parents passed away one after another in Novosibirsk. In these difficult days, Heydar Aliyev was the first to support her.
" They lived in Novosibirsk, I went there, to a city where I had not lived for a long time and lost my friends and relatives there, and then my mother's funeral ...Imagine my surprise when in Novosibirsk they called me for a telephone connection with Baku. It was Heydar Aliyev. “Kaleria, I am calling to express my deepest condolences on my behalf and on behalf of Zarifa Azizovna. Tell me, how can I help you? I answered: "Yes, Geidar Alievich! Thank you very much." This event became a landmark in the most difficult period of my life, because none of my Moscow leaders, with whom I was friends, and who knew perfectly well that I was there, and in what position, did not call me and did not say these words, did not provide attention and support, "- said Kaleria Kislova.
Heydar Aliyev once actually saved the son of Kaleria Venediktovna from death. Her son was 14 years old and had an appendicitis attack. He was taken to the Sklifosovsky Institute, where he was diagnosed with ... "simulation", and sent home. The next day, his appendix burst and he was taken to the hospital unconscious. The operation lasted six hours, and the young man was placed in intensive care. All this time, the mother could not find a place for herself, rushing from corner to corner, because everything could end in death. And in the evening Alexander Ivanov, head of Heydar Aliyev's bodyguard, called her to discuss current affairs. And Kaleria Venediktovna told about her misfortune.
“In the morning, when I arrived at the hospital, I was surprised by a large number of doctors, professors, up to the Minister of Health. As it turned out, Geidar Alievich was outraged by the actions of the doctors of the Sklifosovsky Institute, and it was instructed that he be reported to the reception on the state of my son’s health several times a day! In fact, thanks to the efforts of Geidar Alievich, my son was brought back to life! fuck!"- said Kaleria Kislova.
And once, having learned that Kaleria Venediktovna was seriously ill, Heydar Aliyev sent his personal doctor to her, who cured her in just three days. Moreover, she was allocated an apartment.
"He always came to help, he never asked directly, but he always knew who needed help and what kind. It was also in my life that he saved me when I was very sick. I am immensely grateful to him for such care! And when I went to work, they called and said that they had given me an apartment. "And he told me that I have an old living space of 39 square meters. That's the kind of person he was! Therefore, I simply idolized the person who saved my child, helped me when I was sick. Never and none of all the representatives of the leadership with whom I worked did as much for me as Heydar Aliyev did. He was struck by optimism, attentive attitude towards people and boundless love for the motherland, care and attention even to complete strangers",- said Kaleria Kislova.
Kaleria Venediktovna recalls the warm relations that were in the family of Heydar Aliyev.
" I met Zarifa Azizovna in Almaty in Kazakhstan in the late 70s, where she was with Geidar Alievich. He loved his wife very much, all men would have such feelings towards a loved one! Even in this he was different from everyone! After he introduced me to his wife, we talked, and as it turned out, she heard a lot of good things about me from Geidar Alievich. She immediately hugged me, and I felt a soul mate to me. After that, we met several times,and she always called me Kaleria khanum, and I was very pleased to hear it.Zarifa Azizovna was an amazing, very educated, sympathetic and kind woman. She was for me a model of a smart, subtle and wise woman. I humanly admired this married couple! ...1985 was a very difficult year for Geidar Aliyevich. At this time, his wife Zarifa Azizovna was already very ill. Before another business trip of Geidar Alievich to Altai, we met with her at the Bolshoi Theater, where he made a report on March 8. She called me and asked: "I have a big request to you, Kaleria. Make sure that he does not catch a cold. He does not like to wear a hat and scarf, but it's cold there, and he is a southern man." So she took care of him. April 15, 1985 - I will never forget this day. Zarifa Azizovna passed away. In the morning, when I went to the Kremlin and entered the office to express my condolences, I saw a completely different Geidar Alievich. He had just arrived from the hospital, where he spent the whole night, did not sleep, it was painful to look at him. Then for the first time I saw Geidar Aliyevich's tears... I tried to say something, somehow support with words, and he answered: "I lost not only my wife, I lost a friend..."
Many years have passed since Heydar Aliyev left Moscow. Many years have passed since he passed away. And his former team, those who remained, still meet and celebrate the memorial day - December 12 and his birthday - May 10.
We always say: "We are the team of Heydar Alievich!" Kaleria Venediktovna completed the conversation.
// Photo: Seva Galkin
Dear friends!
In our digital era, the epistolary genre is rarely addressed, but I came to Channel One in the last century, when people were still writing letters to each other, not text messages. So sorry for such a long message. I dare to hope you know the true reasons for my unexpected transfer to Rossiya 1, where I will host the new program Andrei Malakhov. Live”, to engage in the Saturday show and other projects.
I remember the day when, as an intern, I crossed the threshold of the Vremya program and for the first time saw a large television from the inside. From that "Ice Age" there was only 91-year-old Kaleria Kislova(former chief director of the program "Time". - Approx. "StarHit"). Kaleria Venediktovna, colleagues still speak of you with a breath. On TV they will no longer see such people who could build ;-) everyone - both presidents and top officials of the state. You are an example of the highest professionalism!
// Photo: Personal archive
From the amazing past, I will also miss Kirill Kleimenov, who is today at the helm of information broadcasting. We started together on the Good Morning program. Cyril then read the morning news, and today he has a huge responsibility on his shoulders, he practically lives in the Television Center. Kirill, for me you are an example of self-denial in the name of your favorite business, and there is the highest justice in the fact that it was you who got the office with the most beautiful view of the ancient Ostankino Park. I also admire that you can easily communicate even in such a difficult language as Finnish. When conjugating verbs in my "easy" French classes, I always remember you.
// Photo: RIA
Dear security personnel! Thank you very much for your help! I took my first steps at Ostankino without your supervision, but then you managed to stop so many fights - both in the Big Wash studio and on the Let They Talk program.
Almost every day of these 25 years, when I entered the Telecentre, I was greeted by an invariably friendly Oksana Markova selling newspapers and magazines. Oksanochka, I already miss your wonderful smile!
Oksana Markova - my day on the "First" began with her smile
Head of the Telecentre Mikhail Markovich Shubin I will never forget your kindness.
They say that they have now introduced a quota for the issuance of American visas. But for the amazing woman who died not so long ago Hadozy Mustafina there were no obstacles from the department of passport and visa support. And what fabulous pies she treated me to! Svetochka Kazakova, Kate Nazarov, Rita Dovzhenko, Lenochka Semenova how many sleepless dawns, getting visas, we met together! Thanks to your participation, all my foreign business trips took place.
Head of Channel One. World Wide Web”, my classmate and classmate at Moscow State University Lesha Efimov, do you remember how you and I flew to open the channel's broadcasting in Canada and Australia? I'm sorry we couldn't resume our business trips.
// Photo: Oleg Dyachenko / TASS
Your deputy and my good friend the news anchor Dmitry Borisov.
Dima, all hope is on you! The other day I saw fragments of "Let them talk" with your participation. I'm sure you will succeed!
// Photo: Sergey Dzhevakhashvili
One of the main creators of my style - Tatiana Mikhalkova and the super team of the Russian Silhouette image studio! How many styling, and in a matter of minutes, did Regina Avdimova and her magical masters. I think it could not have done without the help of a collection of frogs, which Regina collects for good luck.
My native 14th studio! With tears in my eyes, I recently watched how it was dismantled. Wonderful design, invented by the chief artist of Channel One Dmitry Likin. Who is able to do better, to endow the scenery with the same inner energy?! Dima is generally a very versatile person. The interiors of the Moscow cinema "Pioneer", the embankment of the park of arts "Museon" are also his creations. And I am also grateful to Dmitry for being one of the first to infect me with love for contemporary art, and this added an incredible cascade of emotions into my life.
My beloved Catherine! "Sister Capricorn" Katya Mtsituridze! I'm sorry I didn't tell you personally, but as a person who works on the channel and heads Roskino, you understand: I need to grow and move forward. Katyusha Andreeva, you have a cool page on Instagram, and special respect for your likes. Katya Strizhenova, how many actions, starting from "Good morning", holidays, concerts, our "sweet couple" withstood ;-) - and do not count!
// Photo: Sergey Milansky
// Photo: Natalia Krsilnikova / PhotoXpress.ru
Chief music producer of the channel Yuri Aksyuta, we also have a rich experience of telehours spent together. Eurovision, New Year's Lights, Two Stars, Golden Gramophone - it was recently, it was a long time ago ... You brought me to the big stage: our duet with Masha Rasputina still does not allow envious people to sleep peacefully.
// Photo: Persona Stars
Lenochka Malysheva, you were the person who first called in excitement, refusing to believe what was happening. But you need to develop, as a producer of your own program, you understand this better than others. And if along the way I prompted you to a new topic on the air called "The first manifestations of male menopause" ;-) , that's also not bad.
// Photo: Anna Salynskaya / PhotoXpress.ru
And if we continue to joke, another producer of his own show understands me well - Ivan Urgant. Vanya, thank you for the numerous mentions of my person and for raising the rating of that rather big part of the audience that spins spinners.
Directorate of Planning and Financing - Tatyana Vasilievna Garanina! If anyone can be called a true lady in Ostankino, it's you! The picture was forever imprinted in my memory: the dead of night, the almost empty Telecentre and the fragile, graceful female figure leaving work. And I hope you know: everything that we sang then at your anniversary was sincere and from the heart!
Head of Commercial Directorate Petr Shepin! Among the many events that you helped us hold is a charity marathon in support of the residents of the Far East affected by the flood. This is not forgotten!
Zhenya Morozova And Oksanochka Shendler- my Ostankino flower fairies! With your bouquets, especially New Year's compositions, you always reminded me that somewhere else is the season - without cold, freezing rains and gray, cloudy skies. I don't know how soon I'll be in your store again, but I hope my 5% discount won't be cancelled.
Andrey Andreevich Pisarev! For many years you were my immediate supervisor, and I am extremely embarrassed that, having written a letter of resignation, I could not help with tickets to the Salzburg Opera Festival and the performance of Anna Netrebko. One thing pleases: an unprecedented excitement reigned there, and you saved $ 20 thousand for the family budget. So much they asked for for one ticket.
// Photo: Sergey Fadeichev / TASS
Lenochka Queen! In memory of your grandmother - Lyudmila Gurchenko, whom I promised not to leave you in my life, I nevertheless hired you. You yourself know that you were not the most exemplary administrator. But now, having gone through the “Let them talk” school, I dare to hope that you won’t let me down anywhere.
Ilyusha Krivitsky! My flight on the horns of a bull in the "Great Races" will always be on your conscience ;-). But you know how much I love you, and Maxim Galkin is very lucky that he has such a producer in the Best of All program.
// Photo: Sergey Milansky
And if we are talking about Maxim Galkin ... Max, everyone says that I am repeating your television fate (in 2008, Galkin left Channel One for Russia, but returned seven years later. - Approx. "StarHit"). I will say more, as a teenager, I, a novice fan of Alla Borisovna, also dreamed of repeating your personal fate ... ;-) And one more thing. I did not comment on your recent video with the castle in the background, because if money had been in the first place in this story, my transfer, as you can imagine, would have happened nine years ago.
Press service of Channel One - Larisa Krymova... Lara, it was with your light hand that I became the editor-in-chief of StarHit magazine. It was you who organized my first meeting with Viktor Shkulev, President of Hearst Shkulev Publishing, where this magazine has been successfully published for the tenth year.
// Photo: Tushin Anton/TASS
Head of the sports editorial office of Channel One Nikolai Nikolaevich Malyshev, you have always remained for me the standard of elegance and a wise attitude to what is happening. And you will certainly put yourself in my position by agreeing that it's not every day that you get an offer to become a producer of your own show.
Dear and very beloved HR department in the face of Larisa Ivanovna Kulkova, Lyubov Mikhailovna Pukhanova and of course, Larisa Anatolyevna Nasonova. I saw your sincere tears when I brought the application. This kind of attitude is worth it.
First Deputy General Director - Alexander Faifman. Sasha, we worked closely, with your direct participation, we launched the Big Wash project. I still feel embarrassed that already at the second training session of the Ice Age, when they put me in a pair with Anna Semenovich, the ice crashed, and Anechka and I didn’t skate anymore ;-).
Well, in conclusion - about the owner of the main office of Ostankino, on the door of which there is a sign "10-01" attached. Dear Konstantin Lvovich! 45 years is an important milestone in a man's life, 25 of them I gave to you and Channel One. These years have become part of my DNA, and I remember every minute that you dedicated to me. Thank you so much for all that you have done, for the experience that you gave me, for the amazing journey along the television road of life that we have gone through together.
The inspirer of my victories Konstantin Ernst // Photo: Evgeny Smirnov / Woman.ru
The only request is to take care of your assistants, especially Lenochka Zaitsev. She is not only a very dedicated and professional employee, but she can also claim the role of the chief psychologist of Channel One.
I wrote all this and I understand: a lot has happened in 25 years, and although I am unbearably sad now, only one thing will be remembered - how good we were together. Take care of yourself and your loved ones, my love! God bless us!
Yours Andrey Malakhov
January 1 marks 50 years since the release of the first issue of the country's main information program - the Vremya program. Kaleria Kislova is one of those who stood at the origins of the Vremya program, the chief director of the Main Editorial Office of Information in 1977–2003.
The creator and first editor of the Vremya program, Yuri Letunov, drew attention to you when you were still working in the youth editorial office. How did your acquaintance happen?
I was lucky with the leaders on television. We had only four editions, including the youth one (Main edition for children and youth of the Central Television - TASS note). In 1965, the anniversary of the creation of the Mayak radio station was celebrated, Letunov was its editor-in-chief. What I loved most in my life was working on mobile television stations (PTS). I was sent to do a live report from Mayak.
We arrived at the Radio Committee on Pyatnitskaya, set up cameras in different departments. We came to the office of the editor-in-chief, he was not in the office, and without an agreement with Letunov, I rolled a camera in front of him so that he would say some words on the air.
I was sitting to the side, and suddenly a fast man flew in, strong, well-built, of medium height, hair with gray hair, a raincoat fluttering on him. He says: “So, hello, who is this with me?” I jumped up: “Yuri Alexandrovich, hello. I want you to say a few words on the show."
Yuri Alexandrovich says: “No, I will not speak. I know that you are reporting live from us, I told everyone what my deputy will say. "And why?" I asked.
"Firstly, because I don't like TV at all. And I just don't want to." I say: “Yuri Alexandrovich, but you are the creator of this Mayak. If you are not in this program, why do it at all? “Well, well,” replied Letunov. This is how we got to know each other.
Then, in November 1974, I was called to see Letunov, who was already the editor-in-chief of the Vremya program. I go to him, he sits with two of his deputies and says: “Will you go as the main director to us?” I say: “Yuri Alexandrovich, I think that I am not ready for the main director. I don’t know your work at all, I didn’t work in information.”
He told me: "Maybe you're right." But he immediately gave me a sheet of paper and told me to write an application to the chairman of the USSR State Radio and Television Sergei Lapin about being transferred to the post of director of the Main Editorial Office of Information.
How did your work in information differ from the youth edition? Was there any specificity?
Everything was different. If in the youth edition the plans were 30 seconds (that is, after such a period a montage was made - approx. TASS), then in the information - two and a half seconds. If in the youth team we said: “Listen, we must hurry, we have two days left before the broadcast”, then in the information they said: “Yes, five more minutes before the broadcast, let's go smoke ... "
Then I "sat down" on the program "Time", began to conduct it as a director. The first broadcast passed - without a hitch, the second one passed - everything is fine again.
Before May 1, 1975, in April, Yuri Alexandrovich calls me and says: “We want you to broadcast live from Red Square.” I agreed. “And who do you want to be the second director?” - asks Letunov.
I replied that I do not need anyone. I thought for a long time: why do all broadcasts go forever with a marriage? Either the sound was cut, then the transition is not the same, then the camera is not there. I said that this is because directors from different editorial offices work. And she convinced Letunov that there was no need for a second director, so that there would be no disputes.
How did you become the personal director of the general secretaries of the Central Committee of the CPSU? Has it put any restrictions on your life? After all, you became the only person in the Main Information Office who had access to state secrets.
Somewhere after the May holidays of 1975, I began to go to official events with the participation of Leonid Brezhnev, Andrei Gromyko. Letunov called me and said: “We talked with the first deputy chairman of the committee, Enver Mammadov, and decided to issue you such a permit so that you would constantly work with Leonid Ilyich.”
When I went to register in the first department, they gave me a questionnaire - a thick pack of sheets, almost like a notebook. I filled it all out.
Once there was such a story with Brezhnev. On September 1, 1978, I was given another vacation, despite the fact that Leonid Ilyich himself had not yet gone on vacation. And suddenly they called from the editorial office and said that Grandfather - that was how they called Lapin in absentia - really asks me to fly to Baku for at least three days, because Brezhnev was going there.
And on September 3, in the morning, we flew to Baku. We went straight to the Palace. V. I. Lenin, where Brezhnev was supposed to speak. I saw that the cameras were not the way I needed them and rearranged them. I returned to the hotel, in the evening the group and I went to a restaurant. There, a man comes up to me and says that they ask me to answer the phone. And Elshad Guliyev, deputy chairman of the Azerbaijani TV and Radio Committee, tells me on the phone that I need to be downstairs in order to go somewhere. We went to the Lenin Palace. There were a lot of people there - Heydar Aliyev, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan, met with the press, which was going to cover the event. I was the only woman, and even in a white jacket.
And at some point Aliyev comes up to me and says: "Kaleria, let's get acquainted." And then he asks the question: “Why did you rearrange the cameras?” To be honest, I was just dumbfounded. No one in my position has ever asked me such questions. I explained that Brezhnev would speak, and because of some features of his face - paresis of the facial nerve - we do not shoot him full face. We always put the camera not directly in the center, but a little bit from the angle. He agreed. And then he asked me to show what each camera shoots. We reviewed together.
Aliyev traveled with us the route of the entire program of Brezhnev's stay in Baku and carefully monitored how we set up the cameras. That struck me about him. And then it turned out that Brezhnev fell ill and the visit was postponed. Geidar Alievich agreed with our leadership that our group would remain in Baku until Brezhnev's arrival. We were taken in. And it turned out that instead of three days I was there for a month.
When Leonid Ilyich arrived there, at the first dinner in a narrow circle we met personally with him. The funny thing is that Brezhnev didn't know who I was. When we were introduced, Bagirov, Secretary of the Central Committee of Azerbaijan for Industry, stood to my left, and Konstantin Chernenko, Head of the General Department of the Central Committee of the CPSU, to my right, and when it was my turn, Aliev smiled and said: “And this is our Miss Television - Kaleriya.”
Leonid Ilyich kissed me on both cheeks. It turned out that Brezhnev mistook me for a local. And after that, Brezhnev never called me by my first name, but only "our Miss Television."
For 30 years of work in the Vremya program, six heads of television have changed, but Sergey Lapin stands apart from all the heads of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company with whom you had to work. How was your relationship?
With Sergei Georgievich I had a very good business relationship. The only thing is that Lapin really did not like anyone to communicate directly with Brezhnev. And I never really climbed. She came to the office, set up cameras, lights. Then she went to PTS.
Most often, Lapin himself came to the Kremlin or to Brezhnev's dacha for recording. And when the recording was going on in the Kremlin, and for some reason Sergei Georgievich could not come, he asked that they bring him a picture without sound. And he looked at our work from his office.
In November 1981, Leonid Ilyich was supposed to talk to Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. We came to his office, placed the equipment. At first they thought that he would be at his desk. But it turned out that he would be sitting at a table at the end of a long conference table. And when it became clear, I was already sitting in the TCP. And our operator Boris Kiparisov says: “Listen, urgently get up here, because the commandant of the first building did not allow me to move the table.”
I run into the office, look, and Leonid Ilyich is already sitting. I greeted him. “Oh, hello, hello, our miss, hello,” said Brezhnev. And I ran to the commandant: “Listen, we need to move that table.” And Leonid Ilyich says: "Is there something you don't like here?" - "No, Leonid Ilyich, I like everything, but I need to rearrange something here a little." He turns to the commandant: “Yura, you do everything as she says. Here today she is the hostess, not me. Immediately the table was moved - and I ran back to the TCP.
I go in, and the chairman calls me and says: “Why did you talk to him ?!” - "Sergei Georgievich, it was not I who spoke to him, it was he who spoke to me." - "You should have said that you have a chairman." - "Sergei Georgievich, I could not tell him this, because it had to be done urgently."
He hung up.
You worked with six leaders of the USSR and Russia. Were you given instructions on how to film each of them, and which moments stand out the most?
In March 1982, Leonid Ilyich visited Tashkent. The film crew and I were driving in a car from the collective farm-limonarium to Tashkent. The head of the 9th department of the KGB of the USSR calls us in the car and orders us to urgently go to the aircraft factory.
We drove up first, Brezhnev followed us, about a hundred meters later.
We go into the assembly shop, there is an already assembled aircraft on the left, over which a crane is thrown, a shaky bridge. The bridge was not blocked, there were no “nine” officers on duty (9th department of the KGB - approx. TASS) near it, and a lot of people climbed onto it. Everyone wanted to look at Leonid Ilyich.
The operator takes off, I clear the way for him with my elbows in front. Brezhnev is walking, next to him is Rashidov, the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan. As soon as Brezhnev went under the bridge, it collapsed and people from a great height began to fall on him. One person fell right on the general secretary, Brezhnev fell to the floor. He had a broken collarbone. Leonid Ilyich was carried out on a coat and placed in a car.
We were the only ones who had it all removed. From the first to the last second.
I come to the Uzbek television, I'm going to overtake these shots to Moscow, suddenly a call on the "Kremlin" phone. The head of the department of the Central Committee of the CPSU, Leonid Zamyatin, calls from the residence and says in a stern voice: “Kaleria, don’t try to overtake these shots. You will bring the film to Moscow yourself, hand it over to me personally, you are responsible for it with your head ... "
I stand in an embrace with this roll of film in a green case and do not know what to do. Where to store it before the plane? The chairman of the Uzbek TV and Radio Company comes up to me and says: “Let's put the tape in the safe for me. We'll seal the safe." So they did.
The next morning we come to the broadcast at a solemn meeting on the occasion of the anniversary of the republic. Leonid Ilyich was drugged with painkillers, and he read the report, then went to the Central Committee, where he also made a short speech. And after that - immediately to the airport.
And I went to the chairman of the TV and radio committee to take the tape. I went in, but he didn’t look me in the eyes: “Kaleria, the representative of the Uzbek KGB took the tape, I couldn’t object to him ...” It seemed to me that after these words I would die right next to this safe. I don’t remember how I got on the plane, it seemed to me then that if the plane had crashed and crashed, it would be better for me than to come to Moscow without this film.
From the airport I immediately went to Ostankino, it was midnight, I arrived, my editor-in-chief Viktor Lyubovtsev was sitting there and said: “Lera, Lapin calls all the time, looking for you ...”
At the meeting, everyone pretends that I am not in the office. Suddenly the secretary calls me and says: “Lerochka, let's go to us. Two generals arrived there ... "
I went into the office, they saw me and stood up. Very tall "birds" came to talk with me: Tsinev, the first deputy chairman of the KGB of the USSR, and the head of the 9th department Yuri Storozhev.
They spoke to me very politely, asked me what had happened, and left. Ten days have passed, everyone ignores me, I sit in the office as if in a vacuum.
One day, they are called to the reception room of the chairman of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company and are connected to the Lubyanka via a "turntable". “Comrade Kislova? - Strictly ask at the other end of the telephone wire. “There’s a car behind you, drive up to us.” I ask for the number of the car. And in response they say to me: “You will be recognized ...”
In the black "Volga" - a young and very polite lieutenant. We rush to the Lubyanka, to the KGB of the USSR, they hand me over to a no less polite major.
No one asked for documents, no one issued passes. Reception of KGB Chairman Yuri Andropov. I went in and said hello, no one answered me.
Andropov talked to me very well. He immediately called me by my first name...
I told him twice how it was, answered questions. We drank tea with him. And then Andropov called someone on the line and ordered to take me home and see me to the apartment.
On the second day, everyone began to smile sweetly.
Speaking of Andropov, he was also at the helm of the Soviet state...
I did not see Yuri Vladimirovich for a very long time after that conversation at the Lubyanka. But then, at the end of January 1983, I had one conversation with him.
Andropov did not like video filming, but preferred photography. And at first we received photos from TASS. Yuri Vladimirovich once said: “Heydar Alievich told me here that you are dissatisfied with me?” I say: "Showing your photos in the information program is not the best option." And he said the following phrase: "It seemed to me that we have overfed our people with television." To which I replied that when some important moments, it is still better to show in motion, and not with the help of a photo. And to my misfortune, I convinced him ...
In July 1983, Andropov was supposed to present the Order of Lenin in the Kremlin to Janos Kadar, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party. This broadcast cost me half my life.
Calls the head of the "nine" Yuri Plekhanov and invites you to come to the Kremlin for the awards. They choose the smallest Red Drawing Room in the Grand Kremlin Palace, the former bedroom of Empress Catherine. Firstly, there was an unfortunate dark red background, and secondly, it was very cramped, and thirdly, there were a lot of people crowded. We were allowed to install only two cameras. There was another detail. He was given a table with a malachite top, slightly higher than the coffee table. The cameras are jammed, you can’t drive anywhere - there is a wall behind your back. Andropov comes out, starts talking, and I see that his hand is just shaking, in which he holds a piece of paper. At the same time, he wants to lean on something, but he is tall and cannot reach the table. And on any plane all this is visible. I had such a horror.
We with two experienced operators did not know what to do. After the broadcast, I went to work as if I were going to be shot, because I had never had such a shameful broadcast. It was impossible to cut it, because he held the paper almost to his eyes.
On the second day, some strangers from the Central Committee, the KGB come. Call our group. We go to the control room, where the debriefing takes place. I ask them: "Tell me what to do in this case?" They say to me: “Couldn’t you remove the paper?” "Where?" - I answer.
We demonstrated that it was necessary to cut the plan to the very eyes of the Secretary General, even to cut his nose ... Thank God, everyone understood everything and nothing happened to anyone.
Do you remember anything about Konstantin Chernenko, who was General Secretary for 13 months?
I was with Chernenko in the hospital before he voted in the elections to the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR in February 1985. People from the Central Committee wanted to build a platform right in the Central Clinical Hospital and have him read the report. Lapin entrusted the shooting to me. I said that I should go to the Central Clinical Hospital - to look and meet with Konstantin Ustinovich. Immediately after this conversation, I was taken to the Central Clinical Hospital in Kuntsevo.
I entered the "presidential" block. There was the most prestigious apartment for those times: a large bedroom, a living room with solid furniture made of light wood, greenish walls, a picture of the Kremlin hung from the side of the Grand Kremlin Palace, like on a hundred-ruble note. And Chernenko was lying in a separate room on a special bed with all kinds of tubes.
Chernenko recognized me, of course. I sat down on a chair closer, asked: “How are you feeling?” He said: “Yes, in different ways. Sometimes it's better, sometimes it's an attack." He breathed in for every word. I felt very sorry for him. I wished him a speedy recovery.
From there, I returned to Lapin, told him that I couldn’t take on this job: “He won’t be able to speak. This is simply unrealistic, this is torturing a person ... "
To which he said to me: “What should I do?” - “There is such a thing - a candidate's confidant. And he also has a confidant. Let the trusted person speak on his behalf and meet with the voters.”
I answered him that a short show could be made for the vote so that he would not leave the ward. Maybe put some kind of device so that he can lean on it from behind. And just to put the ballot in the ballot box, waved his hand and said nothing. Lapin said that he would report everything to the Central Committee and call.
On the second day in the morning, he called me at home: "Come." I arrived and he said that my proposal was accepted and a trustee would act, but I should be the director of the broadcast.
Lapin also said that it would be necessary to make another broadcast, in a few days, when Chernenko would be handed the mandate of the deputy. But soon Chernenko was gone.
In March 1985, Mikhail Gorbachev began perestroika in our country. Has his style of working with TV workers changed?
You know that he put the stresses wrong. And when one of the recordings ended, I approached him and said: “Mikhail Sergeevich, can you say “begin” and not “begin”?” He says: “Kaleria, yes, you understand, I know that it’s correct to say“ start ”, but I’m a southern person, I’m used to talking like this. And I like it."
I say: “Mikhail Sergeevich, well, tell me “start” ten times. He calmly told me. I, joyful, came to Ostankino, where we put it into his speech and built it in. And so it went on air.
The very next morning, the city phone rang - Gorbachev was on the line. I say: "Hello, Mikhail Sergeevich." “Listen, how did it happen that yesterday I said “begin”, but it turned out “begin”?” I told him: “Mikhail Sergeevich, you told me right later, and I corrected it. It's the usual way, we always do it." “No, don't ever do that again. I don't need to be corrected."
One evening, Mikhail Sergeevich called: “Drive up, I want to show you something.” I came to the Kremlin. I was met by Gorbachev and President Kruchin's manager. They showed me the new living room where they would record. He asks: “Well, how?” I looked and said: “I don’t like greenish silk wallpapers. Again, it will be necessary to beat off the light, push you forward, otherwise you will have horns. “What horns?” he wonders. “You see, Mikhail Sergeevich, what a drawing,” I say. And on the wallpaper there are such stains, no matter how you plant them - it turns out like horns on the head.
Or another example. I offered him all the time to put up a Christmas tree for a New Year's address. “After you there is a chiming clock, everyone is sitting at home, at the table. The trees are lit, the TVs are on, and you are sitting dejectedly in front of a simple background. Moreover, even the crystal floor lamps were removed, because colleagues in the Politburo believed that it was not necessary to show them. “Well, let's at least put a small Christmas tree,” I say. He agrees. I arrive, and he says: “You know, the Politburo killed this idea. They said you can’t have a Christmas tree - this is a bourgeois tradition.”
Once Gorbachev calls me: “Kaleria, hello, come to the Palace of Congresses.” I arrive at the meeting room. Mikhail Sergeevich comes out from the side, comes up to me and says: “Listen, Kaleria, you don’t know how to work ...” It’s not very pleasant to receive such an assessment from the main person of the country. "Why are you showing me like that? Either I’m small at all, or I’m from somewhere on the side.” And when Gorbachev first arrived, we had deputy editor-in-chief Golovanov, a former classmate of Gorbachev, who told me that I should never show a birthmark on my head.
“Here I am,” he says, “I was in London in 1984, they also showed me on television, but they showed me directly. And for some reason you always show me from the outside. If you are embarrassed by my stain, then in vain. I'm proud of them, but I'm not even shy at all. Therefore, I want to be shown straight, large, so that my eyes can be seen. I believe that the most important thing for a person is his eyes. "A scheme for arranging cameras has already been approved in the Palace of Congresses, you can’t put a camera directly. Gorbachev then asked:" What is needed for this? "It is necessary that Yuri Sergeyevich allow it," I replied. "Yuri Sergeyevich, I order you as Secretary General: let me move the camera to the central aisle."
In December 1988, Mikhail Sergeevich was supposed to speak to the delegates of the UN General Assembly. Since Gorbachev had to be shown directly, I fly to New York, and our deputy chairman of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company for technology Yushkevicius upset me: “You know, they didn’t allow the camera to be placed in the center of the Palace of Nations.” Then we went to the United Nations International Television Company, which had the right to set up its cameras as it saw fit. We met with the general director of their television company, convinced that this was Gorbachev's personal request, and received permission to set up a camera and broadcast it ourselves. The camera was installed in the center, on a tier behind bulletproof glass. And I see from today's plans from the UN headquarters that the camera is still standing on the spot where it was allowed to install our camera to film Gorbachev's speech. And I consider it my achievement that I was broadcasting from the UN meeting room.
Did Gorbachev suspect about the impending coup in August 1991?
Before the coup, I recorded Gorbachev on August 2. Before going on vacation, he addressed the people and spoke some general words. I came to the Kremlin for recording. He went out in a shirt, without a jacket, and thoughtfully watched the arrangement of cameras. I went up to him: “Mikhail Sergeevich, I heard that there will be repairs here while you are on vacation. Could you tell us to make a connection here (holes in the floor)?” All the time we dragged all the equipment into his office through the reception room. And the doors are ajar during the recording, and noise is coming from the corridor. He answered this with a very strange phrase: “You know, Kaleria, there will be repairs here, but we won’t be here with you anymore ...” “Mikhail Sergeevich, what are you talking about. Well, maybe I won’t be, but you will be ... ”He paused and said nothing more.
And in the evening I met with Plekhanov, and he introduced me to Vladimir Kryuchkov (from 1988 to 1991 - chairman of the KGB of the USSR, from 1989 to 1991 - member of the Politburo of the CPSU Central Committee - TASS note). They had a general conversation. For the first time in the entire period of work with all the leaders of the USSR under Gorbachev, I broke the rule and did not say that I was going on vacation. She didn’t tell about her vacation at “nine”, and didn’t report to the duty officer. And I did not tell them that I was flying to Baku on vacation. And when all this happened, on August 19, I was not in Moscow, I returned on the same day with Gorbachev, on August 21.
And already on December 25, I was informed a few days in advance that there would be a record with the signing of the resignation. Gorbachev was in a very tense state that day, but collected. I went with him to the Green Drawing Room. When we entered, it was full of people with their cameras, and among them - our three cameras. I warned the president that there would be a camera behind his right shoulder that would show only his hand, which was signing the decree.
And when I recorded it in advance, he always asked me to sit under the camera. And he said: “I can’t look into this glass, I need a living person.” It's been that way since the very first recording. And here I should be in PTS. And he says to me: “Will you be under the camera?” “No, Mikhail Sergeevich. I’m broadcasting, I still have a camera on Red Square to show how the flag will be lowered.”
He was confused, he said: “But how will I know when to start?” “There is a camera with an operator right in front of you, he will wave his hand to you, and you will start,” I answer. He asks: "How to dive into the water?" “Yes,” I answer him. After the broadcast, I went to his office. I approached and saw how two workers unscrewed a large sign on which it was written: "Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev, President of the USSR." I go to him, he stands at the table, lowers his tie and says to me: “Can you imagine, they want to do everything so quickly ... Raisa Maksimovna called me now, they came to her from the administration and said that at 24 o’clock we should leave the apartment and move to another. Well, how is it, but we have a big family ... "
A new president of a new country has arrived... - On the second day, our editor-in-chief Oleg Dobrodeev told me that I needed to go to the Kremlin to see Boris Nikolayevich. I decided that it was not very convenient somehow - I said goodbye to Mikhail Sergeyevich yesterday, somehow right away ... I say: "Give some other director." Agreed.
The next day, Dobrodeev calls again and asks: “Do you know Yeltsin?” I say: “No, well, how do you know? I showed him when he put his party card there at the plenum. And suddenly Oleg Borisovich said to me: “But his assistant called and said that you should come to the shooting.”
We arrived, and when we were introduced to him in turn, they reached me, they said: “Kaleria Kislova, the program“ Time ”. And Yeltsin turned to his assistant and said: “What are you telling me? Back in 1986, I was sitting with her in Zelenograd on a mound. I say: “Boris Nikolaevich, you and I were sitting on a bench, not on a mound.” And he says: “It’s more romantic on the mound.”
And before that, on December 27, we recorded the usual New Year's address with him. But when he began to say goodbye, he said: “You know, you don’t dismantle the Christmas tree and take away the cameras yet. You will come again ... "And I say:" Boris Nikolayevich, yes, you said everything well, I will mount it all on VHS, distill it and send it to you, as always. He said: “No, you will probably still come. I'll write the lyrics myself."
On the evening of the 30th, late in the evening - a call, and they say that tomorrow at 6 am so that all the same people are at the Spasskaya Tower. I started to collect everyone, because the New Year holidays, someone had already gone on vacation, I was afraid that someone had left. But nevertheless, she gathered everyone, and at 6 in the morning - there was frost - we drove up. We collected our entire scheme, sound, video, all together, everything - but they don’t carry the text.
And the text must be typed on a computer in order to submit it to the teleprompter. There is no text. I knew that Boris Nikolayevich was never late. Here is the appointed time - he usually left every minute. And I look, already at a quarter to 10 - there is no text.
And then suddenly his assistant Valentin Yumashev comes out and gives me the text. And he says to me: “Kaleria, you need to dial quickly.” And I go, I go up to the assistant, who is typing. But she herself did not look at the text, did not look, I think - well, as usual. And I walk around a little nervous, because he is about to come, but we are not ready. I went to his chair, leaned back and looked at the teleprompter. And just got on the phrase "I'm leaving."
Boris Nikolayevich came in exactly at 10, greeted me and immediately sat down. And I understand that the text is not ready yet, so I start talking to him: “Boris Nikolaevich, can I fix your hair here?” There was nothing to correct, but I corrected something, I told him something, in general, somehow I tried to divert his attention from the fact that we are not ready.
We made this double, immediately gave the cassette to Ostankino. And they told me that I had to stay. Boris Nikolaevich congratulated us on the New Year, on the new century, and drank a glass of champagne. Boris Nikolaevich gave flowers, we embraced.
And Valentin Yumashev is already telling me that I need to write down Vladimir Vladimirovich ...
Interviewed by Dmitry Volin
The legend of Soviet television, the permanent director of the program "Time" of the Central Television Kaleriya Kislova managed to work in her long professional life with the first persons of the USSR and Russia Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin and Heydar Aliyev. But it was Geidar Alievich who became a special boss for Kaleria Venediktovna, and later a good friend. "My memories of the ex-president of Azerbaijan would be enough for a whole book," Kaleria Kislova admitted to a correspondent "Moscow-Baku".
First meeting
I first came to Baku in 1987. Then Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev arrived in the capital of Azerbaijan on an official visit, and I worked as part of Brezhnev's television group. I got the impression that the whole city of Baku met Leonid Ilyich and, as it should be, very hospitably. On the very first day I met Geidar Alievich. He immediately endeared himself to our entire delegation. I will never forget his friendliness and simplicity. Although even then he held a high post and was the First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Azerbaijan SSR. I knew all the leaders of the union republics, but Geidar Alievich was special. Firstly, he knew his business perfectly, a true professional, a diplomat, and secondly, it was easy and interesting to work with him as a human being. It would seem that he was an unusual and status person, but he behaved very simply. Later, we traveled all over the USSR and half the world for work: we were in the south, west and east, and I never saw him look down on anyone.
He always knew who needed help
From the first minutes of our acquaintance, Heydar Aliyev called me Kaleria, and I, of course, Heydar Alievich. He was fluent in Russian, but sometimes he could just like that, easily, call to work at Ostankino, or home and consult with me how best to build this or that proposal. He respected and appreciated me for the fact that I always tried to answer his request. Sometimes I even had to come to his Kremlin office, where we discussed issues for a long time, talked a lot. Another quality for which Geidar Alievich was appreciated by all his employees is the desire to help. He always came to the rescue, never asked directly, but he always knew who needed help and what kind. There was such a thing in my life that he saved me when I was very sick. For such care, I am immensely grateful to him so far!
Zarifa Aliyeva - merciful and sympathetic
It so happened that we did not meet Geidar Alievich's wife right away, but after some time not in Baku, but in Alma-Ata. When I came to Baku for the first time, Zarifa Azizovna had things to do and a lot of work. She almost never appeared with her husband. Only stealthily did I manage to see her at a reception in honor of Brezhnev's departure from Baku in 1978, but then I was too shy to approach and introduce myself. In Alma-Ata, we met by chance, but as it turned out, Zarifa Azizovna already knew me by name, hugged me warmly and even made a compliment. She said that she liked the dress in which I was then at the reception. Later, Zarifa Azizovna always called me Kaleriya khanum when she met. The first lady was never limited to formal social interaction, she was always attentive and kind, as well as generous. I never let go of Baku without gifts and almost always personally saw off at the airport. The last time we saw Zarifa Aliyeva exactly a month before her death. I did not know that she was already seriously ill and that this was our last meeting. At her funeral, everyone supported Geidar Alievich as much as they could. I even have photographs of this sad day, and are still on the shelf. Together with Zarifa Azizovna, a part of Geidar Alievich also left, there was no face on him. But his family helped him - very young Ilham and Mehriban. They became his support.
Look at Baku from the top...
The first time I came to Baku in 1978, and the last trip took place in the summer of 2014, I rested on the seashore for almost a month. Probably, I love Baku because it gave me a lot, so the stars were formed. Here I worked a lot and rested, first with my son, then with my grandson. I am familiar with different Baku, but it has always been good and made me happy. When I arrived in Soviet times and drove from the airport, I saw only a dried-up desert and “pumps” of oil. But I also loved this landscape. Now this city is like an oasis in the desert: with excellent roads, infrastructure and skyscrapers. I have always liked Baku. I can say that this is one of the most beautiful cities on earth, and I have traveled half the world and therefore I can judge. I can advise those who are just going to go there: be sure to look at Baku from the top point in the daytime and at night. I'm sure this memory will stay with you for the rest of your life.
Forever in people's minds
Already 13 years have passed since Geidar Aliyevich was gone from this world. But in my memory and in the memory of people, he will remain forever. His unspoken presence is felt especially well in Baku. When I arrive there, I go to his grave to bow and talk for a long time ... We were connected by work and friendship, a very long period of time that cannot be forgotten. In many interviews I talk about his character, what kind of person he was and so on. Perhaps there will be enough memories for a whole book, and my children will publish it. There were no secrets in our friendship and I would like to tell even more about him, about his wonderful family and the country that he loved immensely.
REFERENCE: Kaleria Venediktovna Kislova was born on April 20, 1926 in the village of Kargat, Novosibirsk Region. She graduated from the school-studio at the theater "Red Torch" in Novosibirsk and GITIS in Moscow. She worked in theaters in Novosibirsk and Alma-Ata. From January 1961 - assistant director at the Novosibirsk Television Studio. In the same year, she moved to work in the Youth editorial office of the Central Television in Moscow. She worked on the creation of the cycle of programs "Our Contemporary", the TV magazine "Molodist", the TV show "Come on, girls!" and others. She worked a lot on mobile television stations (MTS) during the broadcast of parades and demonstrations on Red Square, youth and student festivals in Bulgaria and Finland, Olympics-80 competitions, teleconferences, the Leningrad World Youth Forum. In 1974, at the invitation of the Editor-in-Chief, she went to work in the main editorial office of information (the program "Time"). The director, and then the main director, directed the broadcast of all the brightest events in the life of our country. Laureate of the State Prize of the USSR, Honored Art Worker of the Russian Federation, awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor, a medal for the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree, and a Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation. Winner of the Telegrand-2011 award. Since 2004, he has been working in the editorial office of the Vremya program, but in a different position. She says that she can’t just retire, and her romance with television will never end.
Kaleria Venediktovna Kislova is a legend of Soviet television who has devoted more than half a century to it. She worked on the creation of many popular broadcasts, during broadcasts of parades and demonstrations on Red Square, youth and student festivals in Bulgaria and Finland, Olympics-80 competitions, teleconferences, the Leningrad World Youth Forum. In 1974, at the invitation of the editor-in-chief, she moved to work in the main editorial office of information - the Vremya program. Laureate of the State Prize of the USSR, Honored Art Worker of the Russian Federation, awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor, a medal for the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree, and the Gratitude of the President of the Russian Federation. Since 2004, he has been working in the editorial office of the Vremya program, but in a different position. She says that she can’t just retire, and her romance with television will never end.
During her long professional life, Kaleria Venediktovna managed to work with the first persons of the USSR and Russia Leonid Brezhnev, Yuri Andropov, Mikhail Gorbachev, Boris Yeltsin and Heydar Aliyev. But it was Geidar Alievich who became a special boss for Kaleria Venediktovna, and later a good friend. In an exclusive interview with the portal "Moscow-Baku" Kaleria Kislova shared her memories of the former President of Azerbaijan.
Acquaintance with Heydar Alievich Aliyev
In general, I can talk a lot about Heydar Aliyev. Never in my life have I met such a sincere person as Geidar Alievich was! I came to Baku for the first time in 1978, being the chief director of the Vremya program, laureate of the State Prize and personal director of Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev. The Secretary General was supposed to fly in and reward the city of Baku. And Geidar Alievich knew all his TV people by their first and last names, he knew who worked for him at official events. And including there was Ilshat Kuliyev, chairman of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company of Azerbaijan, whom he asked who would broadcast this broadcast. And when he found out that I would do it, he asked: “What, we don’t have enough of our own?” It was then a common reaction on the ground. And Kuliyev replied that this was the request of the chairman of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company Lapin, and then Geidar Alievich agreed.
Kuliev came to pick me up at the hotel and we went to the Palace of Congresses. We arrived earlier, I looked out into the hall and saw that black-haired men in dark suits and white shirts were sitting in the front rows. I was the only woman! A few minutes later, a whole group of leaders of the republic led by Geidar Alievich entered. He came up and said: “Well, Kaleria, let's get acquainted. Can you show me everything and tell me how it will go?” The cameras were already set up and I took him through all the cells and showed everything. I was familiar with all the first secretaries, I traveled almost all of our republics - and never before or after this incident, no one came to set up cameras and paid such attention to filming!
Then Leonil Ilyich fell ill, we were left to wait for him, and instead of three days we spent a whole month in Azerbaijan. It's been a fabulous month! We worked a lot, I even managed to fly with Geidar Alievich over the republic. Leonid Ilyich loved Azerbaijan very much and felt very at ease there. And they had mutual understanding with Geidar Alievich, good human relations.
First meeting with Zarifa Aliyeva
I met his wife Zarifa Azizovna during my next visit. It was in the city of Alma-Ata in Kazakhstan. I flew there in advance, I was settled in a residence. And I met Geidar Alievich, Zarifa was with him. And he says: “Kaleria, I want to introduce you. This is Zarifa Azizovna, my wife.” And she said that she heard a lot about me, because Geidar Alievich told me how I work. And then she hugged me.
Phone call from Heydar Alievich Aliyev
19 81 years was quite difficult for me, because this year my parents passed away one by one - first my father, then my mother. They lived in Novosibirsk, I went there, to a city in which I had not lived for a long time and lost my friends and relatives there, and then my mother's funeral ... Of course, I was very worried about all this. And suddenly my phone rang, I picked up the receiver, and the telephone operator told me that I would speak with Baku, with Geidar Alievich. And I actually heard his voice on the phone. He said: “Kaleria, I am calling to express my deepest condolences to you. Tell me how can I help you? I understand that you are alone in the city, and so many worries immediately fell on you. I can send people to help you." I said: “What are you, Geidar Alievich! Thank you very much". And for me, this call and this condolence were very revealing, because none of my Moscow leaders, with whom I was friends and who knew perfectly well that I had not called me there and said these words.
Visit of Leonid Ilyich Brezhnev to Baku
I came to Baku again with Leonid Ilyich in 1982. I worked at the airport, met him, then asked them to drink tea there. and I could get ahead of them and went to the square. We had an agreement with Gusman that I would give him a sign when Leonid Ilyich would drive up. And so I gave a sign, everyone came out to meet him, began to dance. And Brezhnev got out of the car, looked at the podium above and said: “There? No. I'm tired". And got back into the car. Geidar Alievich had no choice but to get into the car. The car turned around and drove away. And we are already on the air and I ordered to continue working. And I had mobile television stations along the highway to the very residence. And we decided that everything would continue on the square - dances, songs ... The whole square was filled with people! And I edited the picture: how the car was going, how people were dancing in the square. And there was an impression that the whole city is one big square. And in the evening they showed the program "Time", where everyone repeated. Leonid Ilyich looked and said: “How beautiful it was! But I didn't see it."
Appointment to Moscow
Then Geidar Alievich was elected a member of the Politburo, Andropov transferred him to Moscow, and on December 7, 1982, he arrived, having already been appointed First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR. And he called me on the Kremlin phone and said: “Here I am in a new position, you can congratulate me!” And I began to travel with him on business trips.
Communication with the people
What struck me most about these business trips was that he got out of the car and talked to people. It was then that Gorbachev and others began to appear, but he started. I remember an incident that happened in Vologda. He was talking to the people and a woman made her way to him. She started talking to him in Azerbaijani, but he asked her to switch to Russian so that no one would think that they were discussing something secret. And he asked her where she came from, how she ended up in Vologda, if her Russian husband offended her, he said hello to him - in a completely simple way.
At the table with Heydar Aliyev
When we all sit down, Geidar Alievich comes. Breakfast in the morning - in a shirt without a tie or in a tracksuit. During the day, lunch was normal - sometimes in the city somewhere, sometimes a gala dinner. And they always had dinner in the evening like this - in their company. It never closed. At this time, we even began to discuss something: either in the evening our impressions of the working day, or in the morning plans and what awaits us ahead.
Caring for loved ones
Once I fell ill, and Geidar Alievich called me at home in the afternoon and was surprised that I was at home. I told him that I was sick and had a high temperature. And I heard in the receiver how he asked at the reception if Kumachev was there. And Kumachev was the doctor attached to him. He demanded him urgently to himself and everyone was alarmed, because they thought that it was bad for Geidar Alievich himself. And he handed the phone to the doctor and demanded that I give my address so that he would come to treat me. And Kumachev really did a miracle - in three days I was already in the ranks.
And when I went to work, I got a call from a woman from the administration of the Council of Ministers and said that they had given me an apartment. She asked me to write down the address so that I could go and see. I thought that this was a hoax, because I didn’t write any applications for an apartment, how could it arise? It turned out that the doctor had returned from me and Geidar Alievich asked: “In what conditions does she live?” And he said that I have three cells there with a total area of 38.76 square meters - that's such a footage.
Trip to Altai
19 1985 was a very difficult year for Heydar Alievich, because at that time Zarifa Azizovna was already feeling bad. And I saw her before our departure, we met twice - on the Lenin Hills at the reception of women, and then at the Bolshoi Theater, where he spoke on March 8 with a report. She called me and said: “I know that you will fly to Altai, you will live there in the same place as Geidar Alievich. Make sure he doesn't catch a cold. He does not like to put on a hat and a scarf, but it is cold there, and he is a man of the south. So she took care of him.
Irreparable loss
On April 15, 1985, I came in the morning to the summer camp. It was Monday. Before I had time to enter the office of the editor-in-chief, he handed me a “shuffle”. And there was a message in it that Zarifa Azizovna was gone at night. I immediately called Geidar Alievich's assistant Valery Gridnev and asked how he was? Valery replied that he was at work, in his office. I took the car and drove to him. When I entered the office, it was painful to look at Geidar Alievich - he was a completely different person. It was about half past 11 in the morning, he had just arrived from the hospital, where he spent the whole night, did not sleep, he was broken, all blackened. I went up and said some words to him - but what are words in this situation. And he burst into tears. And I cried with him. And he said to me« You understand, I not only lost my wife, I lost a friend. She was such a friend...» Then there was a funeral, Zarifa Azizovna was buried at the Novodevichy cemetery. Relatives and all members of the Politburo gathered. Only Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev did not come...
G.A. Aliyev and the "official protocol"
In September 1993, President Yeltsin received delegations at the Grand Kremlin Palace. This is the palace that looks at the Moscow River and was once depicted on a hundred-rouble note. At the top was St. George's Hall, to which a wide gilded staircase led. And one delegation had to pass first before the next one went. A whole army of journalists from all the former republics, from all over the world lined up on this staircase on the right side - who wrote, who filmed. And I was standing there with my operator. And I see that the delegation of Azerbaijan is coming with Heydar Alievich - and he is not pompous, but simple, the way he was before. He goes, greets everyone, everyone is filming, and suddenly he, without thinking about the fact that he violates etiquette and delays all the other delegations, he turns and walks towards me, says: “Kaleria, hello!” and hugs me. And when the delegation went on, everyone surrounded me and began to ask: “Tell me, who are you?” And I honestly admitted that I just worked with Geidar Alievich for many years.
The son was always with his father
Back in those distant times, when the entire Aliyev family lived in Baku, Ilham was already a student at MGIMO and lived in Moscow. At the end of the summer, the harvest was underway and we received materials from correspondents, which I looked through and selected suitable ones. And I saw a film called “The First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan visits the regions.” And at first I did not pay attention to it, I followed the picture and the text, and then I looked closely - and there, in the escort group of Heydar Aliyev, is his son Ilham. At first I didn’t believe my eyes, and then I waited for a close-up and made sure that it was really him. It was August, the end of the holidays and all The "golden" youth rested somewhere on the beaches ... And he accompanied his father on this trip to the collective farms and fields.
Aliyev team
Another detail that sheds light on his human qualities. Many years have passed since Heydar Aliyev left Moscow. Many years have passed since he passed away. And his former team, those who remained - we still meet. We definitely celebrate the memorial day on December 12 and his birthday. We always say: "We are the team of Heydar Alievich."
No wonder they call him"h The Man Who Saved Azerbaijan". That's what they say about him. Because despite the fact that he was 70 years old at that time and he suffered more than one heart attack, he found strength in himself. And he was such a wise man and knew how to get along with people so much that he stopped this interethnic war and brought the country out of the most difficult situation.