by Elena Prozorova
Elena Prozorova is a lawyer and historian specializing in the Great Purge era in the USSR (the 1930s) and fabricated criminal cases from that period, including the “Literary Group” case and the prosecution of poet Igor Franceschi. She researches the unrepresented cases and voices behind big-picture narratives, applying historical and legal research to explain the root causes of modern politics.
Elena gives voice to those who were meant to disappear into oblivion for political reasons—restoring their place in history and reclaiming the truth they were denied.
The project "Repressed Poetry" focuses on the life and works of Soviet-repressed poet Igor Franceschi (1907-1996), whose voice was previously unheard.
Being the pioneering researcher of Igor Franceschi's life and works since 2007 (as well as of criminal cases against him), Elena Prozorova is also the first translator of his poetry from Russian to English.
The beauty and emotional depth of Igor Franceschi's verses, previously confined to the Russian-speaking world (and previously unknown even to it as his name was erased from literature), will now resonate with a wider audience. Through his poignant words and compelling life story, Elena hopes to stimulate dialogue, raise awareness, and foster a more nuanced perspective on historical and modern political events.
Igor Franceschi’s poetry provides a lens through which we can understand the power of art to transcend the wide spectrum of human experiences and emotions. His poetry serves as a profound key to unlock the emotional struggles of those living in a society that suppresses individualism, diversity, and personal freedoms.
Through his work, we can also learn about historical events in a poetic way.
