An Open Letter from Anatoly Bublik to Photographer Fyodor Lashkov

With gratitude to photographer Fyodor Lashkov

On behalf of our “The Way Home” project, I would like to address an open letter to the remarkable photographer Fyodor Lashkov .

As part of our information and educational activities, our project holds video conferences at various levels for compatriots living abroad who have turned their attention to Russia as a future place of residence. We regularly hold events with leading Russian universities.
And so, while holding a pilot video conference in this area, we were careless in using the photographic material at our disposal and, without realizing it, violated copyright.

Fyodor Lashkov is such a well-known photographer that an authorized legal agency closely monitors compliance with his copyright. Extremely diligent, as we were able to see for ourselves when we received a substantiated claim.

First of all, I turned to the open media space to find Fyodor Lashkov. I got acquainted with his work… Fyodor! Your work is unique and has a captivating effect. One wants not only to look at it, but also to mark on a map the places where it was created and be sure to visit them. And most importantly, all these shots were taken in our vast, diverse, and great country!

I realized that I had to explain myself to Fyodor, tell him what our movement does and what goals guide us. The very thought that we had been considered “thieves” would not leave me alone!

How surprised I was when Fyodor responded to my message! We got in touch and had a very good, warm conversation, without any formalities of a legal claim. I had no intention of persuading Fyodor to withdraw his claims, but my heart was already gladdened by the feeling that a person whose interests we had in fact affected was so open and warm toward our cause and understanding of the situation that had arisen. I want to express my gratitude for this very attitude!

Two days later, Fyodor informed us that, taking all the circumstances into account—the absence of any commercial gain being pursued and, above all, the ideological component of our activities in using media content—his claim had been withdrawn in full.

Dear Fyodor Vladimirovich, all I can, want, and ought to do on behalf of the entire team of the “The Way Home” Center for Assistance to the Voluntary Resettlement of Compatriots to Russia is publicly thank you for your genuine Humanity, Nobility, and Attitude, so acutely felt in today’s reality of distinguishing true from false attitudes, which essentially define a person.

I want to say that, even though it happened under these circumstances, I am glad to have met you and discovered your work. It is gratifying to know that you, like us at the The Way Home project, feel a deep love and tenderness for our shared homeland. Your photographs depicting the beauty of our vast country are not only an example of patriotism, but also affirm the strength and kindness that can unite us in our determination to make our country better, as well as show it to those who have never been here.

This shows that, despite the different ways and approaches through which we can contribute, our common goal—the welfare of Russia—remains the same.
Fyodor Vladimirovich, we wish you creative success and are glad to collaborate with you in the right spirit!

With warm gratitude,
Anatoly Bublik and the team of ANO “The Way Home”.