Russia Gave Us a Home

By Victoria Nevolina; Evgenia Chervets
February 26, 2026

— You actively advocate for strengthening relations between Brazil and Russia. What does the connection between these two countries mean to you personally?

“I cannot answer simply as a politician or public figure. For me, this is not a matter of geopolitics or trade charts. It is a matter of heart, memory, and, if you wish, my very essence.”

For me, Russia is my second homeland. And these are not empty words for an interview. My life was divided between the sunny streets of Rio and the snowy Moscow alleys. I lived in Russia, then the Soviet Union, for thirteen years — from 1970 to 1983. These were my formative years. I grew up in Moscow schools, absorbing its culture, language, and that special “Russian spirit.” Later came VGIK — the place that ultimately shaped my worldview.

My connection with Russia is deeply personal, almost intimate, thanks to my mother. She always said that our family lived its happiest years in Russia. Imagine: after all the hardships, underground communist struggle, political persecution, and storms that befell my father and our family, we found a safe harbor. Russia gave us not just refuge — it gave us a home where we could simply be a family. I have carried this feeling of security and warmth throughout my life.

As a film director and musician, I try to be a living bridge between our peoples. In the film “Rio — Leningrad,” created with my friend Valery Naumov, I united two extremes, two poles of my soul. It is a story about geographically distant cities that are spiritually close. They are our twin cities!

As a composer, I recorded two music albums. “Running,” where I set melodies to poems by my friend, poet Olga Nifontova, and “The Stone Road,” with songs I composed together with my dear school friend Marina Kovalyova. In these albums, I sing in Russian. When I sing in Russian, I feel as if I return to that time, to the atmosphere of my Moscow youth. Music does not require translation; it conveys the same “saudade” — nostalgia — understood by both Brazilians and Russians.

The development of relations between our countries is not just work for me. I want Brazilians to see the Russia that I know — deep, sincere, incredibly talented. And I want Russians to feel the warmth and energy of Brazil. We are much closer to each other than the map suggests. We are both countries of vast spaces, big dreams, and broad souls.

— Your parents were historical figures of global significance. What were the main lessons you learned from them?

“In the family of Maria and Luis Carlos Prestes, growing up meant breathing history from childhood. My parents were people of exceptional integrity.”

The first lesson: the foundation of life is work and knowledge. They taught me that one must work and learn continuously. Education provides inner freedom, and work provides dignity.

The second and main motto of their lives was: nothing is achieved without struggle. Justice, truth, and even the preservation of historical memory require effort and resilience. In tribute to that struggle, I took upon myself the mission of preserving my father’s memory. 

I initiated the construction of monuments and museums in his honor based on designs by our close friend, the great architect Oscar Niemeyer. This was my conscious contribution to Brazil’s history.

Another lesson was loyalty to memory and details. I helped my mother write her memoir book “My Compañero — 40 Years with Luis Carlos Prestes.” To ensure her voice reached the world, we published the book in Portuguese, Spanish, German, and Russian. Regarding the Russian edition — the first one prepared by the Communist Party of the Russian Federation was excellent. However, the second edition, published by the “Rodina” publishing house, was released without my permission — they changed the title and did not even mention the translator’s name! For me, this is unacceptable. In the struggle for truth, disrespect for intellectual work cannot be tolerated. I continue defending my parents’ legacy because their lives are a textbook of courage.

— Rio is hosting carnival. You are an expert in its economy and author of a unique study. What is happening in the city now? And is it possible to hold a Russian-themed carnival?

“My scientific work on carnival economics analyzes how a festival becomes an engine of an entire state.”

Rio is currently experiencing peak activity. The city is pulsating with life. To understand the scale: as Bloomberg correctly noted, the Brazilian carnival’s economic impact is more powerful than the Olympic Games or the FIFA World Cup. Unlike the Olympics, which leave empty stadiums behind, carnival annually mobilizes the entire small and medium business sector. We are talking about billions of reais and tens of thousands of jobs.

The Sambadrome is the heart of the system. Each samba school is a large enterprise with a full-year production cycle. Hotels are 100% booked, and the energy in the Sambadrome is so strong that it feels like something that could be exported instead of oil.

Regarding Russian themes at the Sambadrome — you touched on a very important topic for me. It has been my long-standing dream. Since 2002, I have been working on the concept of how to present the greatness of Russia on this global stage. Is it realistic? Not only realistic — it would be triumphant.

I often speak about this with cultural figures and government representatives, but unfortunately, I have not yet found sufficient understanding. Carnival is an ideal instrument of soft power. The carnival broadcast is watched in more than 200 countries. It is a state-level advertising campaign that cannot be bought for any amount of money.

When millions of people worldwide see Russian history, ballet, space achievements, or literature through beauty, dance, and spectacular design, it will destroy negative stereotypes. Russophobia will lose its strength. Brazilians are very warm toward large, soulful cultures. The Russian soul and Brazilian passion have more in common than it seems at first glance.

Imagine: Swan Lake in samba rhythm, or a parade dedicated to Yuri Gagarin’s first space flight! This synthesis would make the world stand in admiration.

Many people see this as mere entertainment, but I see it as a strategic economic and geopolitical move. Russia deserves to have its greatness resonating in the loudest rhythm on the planet.

© Luis Carlos Prestes Jr.