Lawyer Nadezhda Savchenko was excommunicated from the TV game “What? Where? When?" in Russia

Ilya Novikov is the owner of one diamond and two crystal owls in the TV game “What? Where? When?". Photo: Novaya Gazeta

Russian lawyer Ilya Novikov, who defended Ukrainian soldier Nadezhda Savchenko in court, was forced to leave the famous TV game “What? Where? When?”, which airs on Channel One in Russia.

Presenter “What? Where? When?" (CHGK) Boris Kryuk, the stepson of the founder of the TV quiz show Vladimir Voroshilov, said that Novikov should have left the club of experts as soon as he decided to take on Savchenko’s case.

“If you defend Savchenko and you are a ChGK player, then that means ChGK is also for Savchenko,” Kryuk said in interview "Moskovsky Komsomolets", adding that the game exists outside of politics.

Ilya Novikov, who is the owner of one diamond and two crystal owls (the main awards for club connoisseurs are approx. ForumDaily), stated that he had no complaints about Hook.

“When I took on Savchenko’s case, I understood that it could create trouble for the program that airs on Channel One. And I already told Boris Kryuk that I was ready to leave at any moment,” the lawyer told the BBC Russian Service.

At the same time, it is reported that problems with the presence of lawyer Savchenko on the First Channel began not immediately.

Novikov says that until the end of 2015 everything was calm, but with the trial in the Savchenko case reaching the finish line, “it became impossible to pretend that Ilya Novikov is one thing, and lawyer Novikov is another.”

One of the factors that made Ilya Novikov’s departure from ChGK inevitable was the radio program “Full Contact” by journalist Vladimir Solovyov. One of the episodes of the daily morning show on the Russian radio “Vesti FM” in March It was dedicated to Ilya Novikov and his participation in CPG.

“When he calls Maria Zakharova [the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry] such words, and in our country there is no one who will punch him in the face, and Ernst [Konstantin Ernst - General Director of Channel One] shows this ***** complete in his place in the program “What? Where? When?”, does this mean that Ernst supports this?” Solovyov wondered about Novikov.

Intellectual TV game “What? Where? When?" was created by Vladimir Voroshilov in September 1975. Photo: screenshot 1tv.ru

Ilya Novikov is known for his harsh statements against Russian officials.

“Telling publicly to people like Foreign Ministry Speaker Zakharova or TFR Speaker Markin that you consider them ******* is also important. In the moral dimension (well, and my perverted sense of humor is also a bonus - their reaction and the reaction of others like them are pleasing). Playing a game show is less important." explained his statements Novikov on Facebook in a post about his departure from ChGK.

Ilya Ber, board member of the International Association of Clubs “What? Where? When?”, which operates separately from the game show, says that the case of Ilya Novikov is the first incident of its kind.

“None of the club members had ever been touched because of politics before this incident. I suspected this might happen. The atmosphere in the country has changed, and what could be done before without thinking about the consequences can now be done, or can be done, but with consequences,” says Behr.

Famous players of ChGK not only previously openly expressed their political position, but also built a career. In particular, Viktor Sidnev managed to combine several years of participation in a TV quiz and work as mayor of Troitsk, while lawyer Mikhail Barshchevsky combined his activities at the club of experts with the public service.

“Novikov was defended by Savchenko for a year and a half, and there were no problems, because he was engaged in professional advocacy. During the last six months of the trial, he began to make political statements not as a lawyer, but as a person involved in politics,” explains the decision of the program’s leaders, Mikhail Barshchevsky, the government’s authorized representative in the highest courts.

According to him, Novikov formally acted as a lawyer, but essentially as a politician.

“It was in this situation that he should have left the club. Which he did on his own, to his credit, it must be said,” added Barshchevsky. — When I was handling the Chubais case 10 years ago, I left the club for almost a year. It was a completely natural decision because it was a high-profile, politicized case.”

Players of ChGK are sure that in the end Ilya Novikov will return to the quiz show. Mikhail Barshchevsky said that he sees no reason why Novikov could not start playing again soon, and Mikhail Skipsky assumes that the return will take place in a few years.

“I am sure that Ilya will return to the program in a few years, because we have such a vigorous situation in our country. Six months later, Turkey again became our great friend, and I am sure that the same story will happen with Ukraine,” Skipsky suggests.

In the meantime, it will not be possible to see not only attorney Savchenko, but also other members of his team on television. They all refused to sit at the gaming table without Ilya Novikov.

Intellectual TV game “What? Where? When?" was created by Vladimir Voroshilov and his wife Natalia Stetsenko in September 1975.

Read also on ForumDaily:

The first day of Nadezhda Savchenko at liberty in photos

The plane with Nadezhda Savchenko flew to Kiev, Yerofeyev and Alexandrov already in Moscow

Savchenko's last word, a gesture in court and global support. VIDEO

In Russia, Savchenko’s extradition procedure has begun and they want to detain her sister

Russians in Israel flashed their wits

Ukrainian Anatoly Wasserman became a citizen of Russia

Israeli medicine came to St. Petersburg with the master "What? Where? When?"

Go to the page ForumDaily on Facebook to keep abreast of the latest news and comment material. Also follow the social network for events in your city - Miami, New York и San Francisco Bay Area.