Russian MFA on March 22, 2025:

(literal translation from Russian)

The great poet, Honored Artist, and People’s Artist of Russia Ilya Reznik congratulated Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov on his 75th birthday — in verse!

To Dear Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov
on the day of his 75th birthday

Sergey Lavrov, a legendary man,
A great Russian Juvenal,
Please accept, on this Planetary Date,
My grateful madrigal.

Amid Europe’s cacophony,
Among the bells of languages and tongues,
You turned Aesop’s coded speech
Into the real power of “ClearSpeak”!

Weighty and winged,
Your speech soars on the airwaves,
And your “and propo” — “Idiots!” —
Cuts like a samurai sword.

With you — your loyal comrades,
Those who keep their love for you —
Your page — Maria Zakharova,
And all the blessed MFA crew!

Life is a difficult fiesta —
Now at a pace, now at a gallop —
A summit in Oman, breakfast in Sana,
A speech in Istanbul, lunch in Botswana!

Happy Birthday! Jingle, necklace!
Bring joy year after year!
He is an all-encompassing minister —
Poet, scholar, polyglot!

Noble and kind-hearted,
A hundred times wiser than Socrates,
He won’t be trapped in ambush,
Nor be deceived by enemies!

Vivat to Lavrov! Kurds and Moors,
Ambassadors, sultans, bachelors
Beat drums and tambourines —
Sending global reverence!

Lavrov! He rests not on laurels,
He strives for new frontiers!
Here is my crescendo of joy,
And my coda: Glory to you, friend, sing on!
Lavrov — the President’s support,
Lavrov — our beloved hero!

With admiration and piety,
Sincerely yours, Sergey Viktorovich,
Resident of blockaded Leningrad,
Poet Ilya Reznik

On the night of March 21. Crimea. Miskhor

“We conclude the poetic marathon and series of greetings to Sergey Lavrov with a masterpiece worthy of a crown.”

You might say, “But we love him not for this…” and yet…

As another poet, also a Jew, Alexander Galich, once said:

“Oh, don’t sew liveries, you Jews,
You won’t become chamberlains, Jews!..”

Reznik, Ilya Rakhmielovich

Ilya Reznik: from a Jewish-born poet to Putin’s propaganda mouthpiece

Jewish origins and early life

Ilya Rakhmielovich Reznik was born on April 4, 1938, in Leningrad, to a Jewish family. His patronymic derives from the Hebrew name Rakhmiel (רַחְמִיאֵל) — “God’s mercy,” reflecting his Jewish heritage. His father died in the war, and his mother, Leah Mikhailovna, was a teacher who raised him with cultural and intellectual values. In childhood, he survived the siege and evacuation.

Theatre and first songs

In 1958, Reznik enrolled at the Leningrad Theatre Institute. From 1965 to 1972, he worked as an actor at the Komissarzhevskaya Theatre. During this time, he began writing poems and songs — first for student shows, later for professional performers.

From recognition to stardom

Ilya Reznik became one of the most famous Soviet songwriters. He collaborated with top composers and artists, including Raymond Pauls, Igor Krutoy, Maksim Dunayevsky, Igor Nikolaev, Alla Pugacheva, Sofia Rotaru, Lev Leshchenko, and Muslim Magomayev.

Most famous hits

Among Reznik’s most beloved songs are: “Maestro”, “Starye chasy”, “Ty na svete est’”, “Vernisazh”, “Bez menya”, “Zolotaya svadba”, “Belaya zima”, “Malenkiy prints”, “Ty snish’sya mne”, “Charodeyka”. These became musical classics and cemented his reputation as a lyrical poet of the Soviet era. In 2003, he was awarded People’s Artist of Russia; in 2013 — People’s Artist of Ukraine.

Since 2014 — the path of a propagandist

With the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014, Reznik openly sided with the Putin regime. He supported the annexation of Crimea, the war in Donbas, and later — the full-scale invasion. Reznik began participating in propaganda events and writing politically motivated texts.

From lyricism to militarism

Reznik moved away from romance and began composing poems and songs glorifying the Kremlin:

• “Lyubimye ne umirayut” (“The Loved Ones Don’t Die”) — dedicated to participants of the so-called “special military operation,” performed by Aziza at the Kremlin.
• “Posvyashchenie Prezidentu” (“Dedication to the President”) — performed by the children’s ensemble “Malenkaya Strana” in praise of Putin.
• Participation in concerts and media promoting the occupation and war.
• Public insults and attacks on anti-war artists.

Targeting anti-war artists

Reznik actively targeted former colleagues who spoke out against the war and left Russia:

• Alla Pugacheva — left the country and publicly condemned the war. Reznik, who had written over 70 songs for her, later insulted her in the media.
• Maksim Galkin — openly denounced the Kremlin and emigrated, also becoming a target of Reznik’s attacks.
• Andrei Makarevich, Zemfira, Boris Grebenshchikov — and others faced similar criticism from Reznik and pro-Kremlin media.

Ukraine’s sanctions: Presidential Decree №38/2025

NSDC decision and restrictions

On January 19, 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree №38/2025 enacting personal sanctions against Ilya Reznik. The decree outlines 22 restrictive measures, effective for at least 10 years:

• Revocation of all Ukrainian state awards and titles
• Blocking of financial and economic assets
• Suspension of all licenses
• Ban on any professional or creative activity in Ukraine

Listed in the “Myrotvorets” database

Ilya Reznik was added to Ukraine’s “Myrotvorets” database with the following accusations:

• Deliberate violation of Ukraine’s state border (entry into occupied Crimea)
• Participation in Russian propaganda activities against Ukraine
• Attempts to legitimize the occupation of Crimea
• Illegal commercial activities in occupied territories

Conclusion: A poet in service of dictatorship

Reznik’s name is no longer associated with poetry or music, but with betrayal and propaganda. Ukraine made a clear statement: artistic achievements do not justify collaboration with the aggressor. Reznik is a case study of how talent can be weaponized by tyranny.

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