Press statements
27 August 2015. LitKult: Dovlatov’s flat will not be turned into a museum
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2 September 2021. Metro: The writer’s room has become a museum
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28 August 2025. Metro: Sergei Dovlatov’s communal flat will become a stage
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Between the first and the second — six years and thirty-four entries.
The inventory records what was written, not what actually happened. It is still being added to.
How to read the inventory
- A reference code is assigned once. It does not change as the inventory grows:
П-047stays П-047 tomorrow and a year from now. If an entry has to be withdrawn, its code is left empty and is never reissued. A code links to a line of the inventory —/pressa/#p-047. - Headlines are given verbatim. Hostile ones included: the inventory records what the outlet wrote, not what the museum likes to hear. Where an item has no headline of its own — a listing, a gallery, a broadcast — a description written by the museum stands in square brackets.
- «In fact» is the museum’s voice. Not a retelling of the publication but a fact the museum adds on its own account. Present in 24 entries out of 111.
- Outlet logos are not reproduced. The rights belong to the editorial offices. The inventory gives only the outlet’s name, as in a bibliography.
- What the inventory covers. Publications by editorial media — websites, TV and radio channels — that name the house at 23 Rubinstein Street, Dovlatov’s apartment, the museum in it or its performances, and «D Day» when the festival takes place outside the house. Not included: social media and blog posts, the museum’s own advertising, and material from outlets whose distribution is restricted by law. An omission or error in an entry — hello@dovlatovmuseum.ru.
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П-111Petersburg Text. Dovlatov’s St PetersburgMuseum
In factA long report on the Dovlatov Museum: an episode of the literary programme «Petersburg Text» devoted entirely to the museum in apartment 34.
Eighty-five
From 28 August to 4 September 2026 — ten entries in eight days: the tenth «D Day» and the writer’s 85th birthday. 3 September — six entries in a single day, from Kommersant to Channel One, which filmed in the apartment (П-107). 4 September — Radio Kultura, the first radio entry in the inventory: both co-founders of the museum in the studio (П-109).
«Dovlatov’s flat will not be turned into a museum» — 2015. «The writer’s room has become a museum» — 2021. «Sergei Dovlatov’s communal flat will become a stage» — 2025.
П-110Date. The «D Day» festival in St Petersburg marked Sergei Dovlatov’s 85th birthdayD Day
П-109Every Sunday the play "No goodbyes — call me!" is staged at the Sergei Dovlatov Museum-Apartment at 23 Rubinstein Street in St PetersburgTheatre
In factBoth co-founders in the studio — «co-founders of the Sergei Dovlatov Museum-Apartment Ivan Eikhenbaum and Aleksei Folkard», presented by Alexander Khaburgaev; the whole episode is about the play «No goodbyes — call me!» and the museum. One of seven entries for 3–4 September 2026, the days of the writer’s 85th anniversary.
П-108Have your picture taken in Sergei Dovlatov’s jacket and get closer to the writer. The «D Day» festival in St PetersburgD Day
П-107Sergei Dovlatov was here. Good Morning. Excerpt from the 03.09.2026 broadcastMuseum
П-106The man who built a mythMuseum
П-105«You can’t print this now»: Dovlatov’s friend speaks of the writer’s unpublished novel and his last days in RussiaMuseum
П-104The city that is no more. A walk around Dovlatov’s places of power on his 85th birthdayMuseum
П-103«All my life, indeed, I have lived naturally only in an atmosphere of failure»Museum
П-102The «D Day» festival marking Dovlatov’s 85th anniversary was held on Rubinstein StreetD Day
In factThe tenth «D Day» coincided with the writer’s 85th anniversary: one of ten entries in eight days, from 28 August to 4 September 2026 (П-101–П-110). In 2024 Metro listed the house at 23 Rubinstein Street as one of the festival’s four venues (П-064); here the festival, with its seventy-odd events, takes place on Rubinstein Street.
П-101Dovlatov festival to mark a double anniversary in St PetersburgD Day
П-100Lectures on the informal culture of the two capitals, tours and a book «flea market» — a guide to the «D Day» festivalD Day
П-099Dovlatov to be talked about in his flat, parks, museums and barsD Day
П-098«D Day» festival director Anastasia Printseva to lead a tour of Dovlatov’s flat and courtyardsMuseum
П-097A guide to historic details in St Petersburg’s stairwells and well courtyards: from boot scrapers to Falconnier bricksHouse
П-096The legendary writer’s museum on Rubinstein Street hosts the immersive tour «Dovlatov’s Communal Flat»Museum
П-095House with writer Dovlatov’s flat renovated in St PetersburgHouse
П-094Beglov shows the Dovlatov house on Rubinstein Street after major repairsHouse
П-093Alexander Beglov: St Petersburg specialists have completed major repairs of the Dovlatov houseHouse
In factOne of three entries for 3–4 December 2025 on the completion of the building’s major repairs, based on a Smolny press office release; the list of works includes the façade and the balconies, the collapse of one of which in June 2023 produced seven entries (П-055). The museum is named directly: «The flat now houses a museum».
П-092Dovlatov admirers are creating a museum space on Rubinstein StreetMuseum
Stage
28 August 2025, Metro: «Sergei Dovlatov’s communal flat to become a stage» (П-076). Up to 22 October — seven entries on the performance «No goodbyes — call me!», three of them on a single day, 4 October (П-087, П-088, П-089); the run closes with a TV report on a showing in the flat (П-091).
The «Theatre» line begins here: the same flat that was up for sale in 2021 for two hundred million becomes, in the inventory, a venue.
П-091«No goodbyes — call me!»: a tour, a play and a real journey through time at the Dovlatov Museum-ApartmentTheatre
П-090How to be Dovlatov’s guest? We tell you about the tour-performance «No goodbyes — call me!» at his museum-apartment on Rubinstein StreetTheatre
In factNot an announcement but a walkthrough: the author goes through the play as a guest, whereas the three entries of 4 October (П-087, П-088, П-089) report only the launch. The answers come from Olga Petrova, who conceived the idea, director Alyona Boyarintseva and museum co-founder Aleksei Folkard; the same Sobaka.ru had announced the premiere on 22 September (П-085).
П-089A tour-performance has been launched in Sergei Dovlatov’s communal flatTheatre
П-088A tour-performance will be staged in Dovlatov’s St Petersburg communal flatTheatre
П-087A tour-performance has been launched in Dovlatov’s communal flat in St PetersburgTheatre
П-086Museum-apartmentsMuseum
П-085The tour-performance «No goodbyes — call me!» is being launched in Dovlatov’s communal flat at 23 Rubinstein StreetTheatre
In factThe earliest entry on «No goodbyes — call me!», the play the museum performs in the flat on Sundays: the premiere is set for 28 September 2025, staged by Alyona Boyarintseva, both founders named. Then come five entries for October 2025 (П-087, П-088, П-089, П-090, П-091) and a Radio Kultura broadcast devoted entirely to the play in September 2026 (П-109).
П-084It has become known what the flat where the writer Sergei Dovlatov lived looks likeMuseum
П-083You can visit Sergei Dovlatov’s flat and try on his jacket only at the "D Day" festivalD Day
П-082«A literature of freedom and heartache». Sergei DovlatovMuseum
П-081A festival dedicated to Sergei Dovlatov was held in St PetersburgD Day
П-080A jacket from America, the illusion of happiness and a parade of dogs of «an absolutely Leningrad breed»: «D Day», the festival in memory of Sergei Dovlatov, draws to a close in St PetersburgD Day
П-079«D Day»D Day
In factFifteen frames from apartment 34: a special showing of Alexander Savchuk’s play «Catch Dovlatov If You Can», based on «Ours» — the premiere took place on 30 August 2025 at the ninth «D Day»; Metro had written about the production two days before it (П-076). The first photo report in the inventory from a play staged in the flat, and one of three entries for 31 August 2025, the festival’s closing day (П-078, П-080).
П-078«D Day» on Rubinstein Street — St Petersburg celebrates Sergei Dovlatov’s birthdayD Day
П-077A guide to «D Day»: haggle with Dovlatov the black-marketeer, enter the flat of a «parasite and brawler» and hear a lecture by LurieD Day
П-076Sergei Dovlatov’s communal flat to become a stageTheatre
П-075Lev Lurie, Alexander Skidan, a Kira Muratova film screening and quizzes: the programme of the ninth «D Day» is announcedD Day
П-074Rooms with secrets: what is hidden in the rooms of Dovlatov’s flatMuseum
П-073Around Dovlatov: how entrepreneur Aleksei Folkard created a museum that everyone needsMuseum
П-072Aleksei Folkard: «Our organisation is not just a Dovlatov museum but a museum of emotions»Museum
In factThe first interview with a founder of the museum in the inventory: Aleksei Folkard, «founder and curator», with his partner named — «My partner Ivan Eikhenbaum and I decided to take the initiative into our own hands». Six months earlier the same publication had described the flat differently (see П-068).
П-071«… was here». The St Petersburg flats of Gorky, Dovlatov, Bilibin and KnorozovMuseum
The stove in the stairwell
П-070Biometrics in the metro, Sergei Makarov’s move to the State Hermitage: an urbanism digestHouse
П-069Volunteers have cleaned the antique stove in Dovlatov’s houseHouse
П-068The «three-bed» of Nabokov’s youth, Dovlatov’s wrecked communal flat and Pushkin’s grandfather’s mansion: How much celebrities’ property costs in St PetersburgMuseum
In factThe section on the flat is headed «‘Evidence’ — port stains on the parquet», the conclusion — «There are no Dovlatov artefacts here». The museum itself had said three years earlier that the only genuine things in the room are the fireplace, the chest and the cornice (see П-044).
П-067Secrets of the writer’s neighbours revealed in Dovlatov’s St Petersburg houseMuseum
In factNTV’s second report in three weeks (the first — П-065, the stove in the stairwell) and the inventory’s first entry on the museum’s new rooms — those of the artists Tatiana Mileant and Svetlana Smirnova. The caption under Ivan Eikhenbaum’s words — «co-founder of the ‘Dovlatov’s Communal Flat’ project».
П-066Volunteers have restored the antique stove in Dovlatov’s St Petersburg houseHouse
П-065Volunteers restore the historic look of the stove in Dovlatov’s houseHouse
П-0644 venues of the «D Day» festivalD Day
П-063Flats of a high culture of living: what can be found in museums in St Petersburg’s residential buildingsMuseum
П-062«The more hopeless the goal, the deeper the emotions»: programme of the eighth «D Day» festival announcedD Day
П-061Dovlatov’s St PetersburgMuseum
П-060A festival devoted to Sergei Dovlatov is under way in St PetersburgD Day
П-059Visiting the writer: what does the communal flat where Sergei Dovlatov lived look like today?Museum
Balcony
П-058Plaster falls from a balcony of the Dovlatov house on Rubinstein Street. The Investigative Committee takes an interest in the incidentHouse
П-057Plaster falls from a balcony of the Dovlatov house on Rubinstein StreetHouse
П-056Investigative Committee takes an interest in the balcony collapse on Rubinstein StreetHouse
П-055Balcony of the Dovlatov house on Rubinstein Street collapses onto a carHouse
In factOne of seven entries in a single day, 23 June 2023, on the balcony collapse at 23 Rubinstein Street; Delovoy Peterburg ran two (this one and П-056). The balconies were restored during the major repairs of the house in December 2025 (П-093).
П-054Balcony of the Dovlatov house comes down on Rubinstein StreetHouse
П-053A balcony collapsed overnight at the Dovlatov house on Rubinstein Street, damaging a carHouse
П-052A balcony collapsed at the Dovlatov house on Rubinstein Street, damaging the roof of a LadaHouse
П-051A Jew of Armenian vintage: a journey the length of a lifetimeMuseum
Change of subject
After 31 March (П-043) the inventory has 155 days without entries. On 2 September 2021 Metro comes out with the headline «The writer’s room has become a museum» (П-044); over the three days around Dovlatov’s 80th birthday — five entries, including Channel One (П-046). On 21 September 78.ru prints an interview: «Tenant tells how he turned several rooms in a communal flat into a Dovlatov museum» (П-050).
With these entries the inventory changes subject: from here on, the press writes about a museum that exists.
П-050Tenant tells how he turned several rooms in a communal flat into a Dovlatov museumMuseum
In factThe tenant in the headline is Ivan Eikhenbaum, in the text «the author of the Dovlatov room project». Autumn 2021 in his own words: «There is no museum, there is no sign», «tours of 1-2 people come here».
П-049«He never made himself out to be a hero». Lev Lurie’s tour of Dovlatov’s addresses in St PetersburgD Day
П-048The renovated Dovlatov room was shown at the “D Day” festivalMuseum
П-047D Day: along Dovlatov’s routes over rooftops, through courtyards and communal flatsD Day
П-046For Sergei Dovlatov’s 80th birthday. Good Morning. Excerpt from the 03.09.2021 broadcastMuseum
П-045A communal flat as an artefact from Sergei Dovlatov’s life.Museum
П-044The writer’s room has become a museumMuseum
In fact2 September 2021, the eve of the writer’s 80th birthday — one of seven entries for that September and the earliest dated mention of Ivan Eikhenbaum in the inventory: «a museologist, a collector of old things». Six months after the 200-million sale listing (see П-025) — «No buyer was ever found», and into the room «tourists are now brought every day».
Two hundred million in a week
From 25 to 31 March 2021 — nineteen entries from eighteen outlets, eleven of them on 26 March alone (П-025–П-043): the flat was put up for sale for 200 million. From Fontanka.ru and Kommersant to Vesty in Israel and Prufy in Ufa. Experts call the price «hype» (П-037) and «ten times too expensive» (П-033).
The densest week in the inventory. Seventeen of the nineteen entries are about the price; one asks whether there will be a museum (П-034), one is about a museum of Soviet daily life that the residents made themselves (П-041).
П-043Dovlatov’s «disgusting communal flat» in St Petersburg on sale for 200 million roublesSale
In factThe only television report of the wave, six days after the first entries: the channel’s correspondent goes to the address. The «disgusting communal flat» in the headline is, according to the report itself, the writer’s own phrase; in the inventory this formula first appears in a headline from 2013 (see П-003).
П-042What does the communal flat on Rubinstein Street where Sergei Dovlatov lived look like today? A St Petersburg blogger showsSale
In factAleksei Polyakov, author of the blog «The Non-Tourist Guide», goes inside — the outlet publishes his photographs of the corridor and the writer’s room; the same visit was retold the same day by Fiesta (П-041), and two days later a Channel Five camera would arrive at the address (П-043).
П-041Residents of Dovlatov’s flat in St Petersburg have made a museum of Soviet daily lifeMuseum
П-040Sergei Dovlatov’s flat put up for sale in St Petersburg for 200 million roublesSale
П-039Communal flat where Dovlatov lived put up for sale in St PetersburgSale
П-038Dovlatov’s flat in St Petersburg put up for saleSale
П-037Pure Hype. Experts explain why nobody will buy Dovlatov’s flat in St Petersburg for 200 millionSale
П-036An attempt was made to sell Dovlatov’s communal flat for 200 million roubles. Migrants live there nowSale
П-035Attempt made to sell Dovlatov’s St Petersburg flat for 200 million roublesSale
П-034«Dovlatov had problems in his lifetime too»: will there be a museum on the site of the famous communal flatCampaign
In factThe only March 2021 entry in the «will there be a museum» series — the other March entries are about the 200 million sale and the flat itself. Anastasia Printseva says the same as П-018 did in October 2016: «as soon as the owners learn that someone wants to turn the flat into a museum, they sharply raise the price».
П-033«Ten times the price». Sale of Sergei Dovlatov’s flat called hypeSale
In factOne of the two March 2021 entries that call the price hype (the other is П-037): market experts put 200 million at roughly ten times the market value.
П-032The communal flat where Dovlatov lived is on sale for 200 million roublesSale
П-031Dovlatov’s flat on Rubinstein Street put up for saleSale
П-030Dovlatov’s flat on Rubinstein put up for sale for 200 millionSale
П-029Sergei Dovlatov’s flat on Rubinstein Street put up for saleSale
П-028Dovlatov’s flat in St Petersburg on sale for 200 millionSale
П-027Dovlatov’s flat on Rubinstein put up for saleSale
П-026Dovlatov’s flat on Rubinstein Street in St Petersburg put up for sale for 200 million roubles (photo)Sale
П-025St Petersburg communal flat where Sergei Dovlatov lived put up for sale for 200 million roublesSale
In factOne of the two entries of 25 March 2021 that open the wave about the sale in the inventory; the next day brought eleven, the week nineteen, from Fontanka.ru to Kommersant. The listing was taken down from the site after journalists made enquiries.
П-024The «D Day» festival took place in St PetersburgD Day
П-023Lev Lurie: «Dovlatov could be called the last Soviet writer»D Day
П-022Visiting Sergei DovlatovCampaign
П-021Entry to Dovlatov’s St Petersburg flat is 100 roublesMuseum
П-020Dovlatov’s HouseHouse
П-019Sergei Dovlatov’s Rubinstein StreetHouse
In factA promotional piece for the Domina hotel on Rubinstein Street: Dovlatov’s flat is named among the sights of the block.
Fundraising for the buyout
From 7 to 24 October 2016 — seven entries in seventeen days (П-012–П-018): a collection to buy out the flat is announced, the activists «plan to buy out» (П-018), Diletant has «will buy out» (П-015). In between, on 17 October, Moskovsky Komsomolets runs the headline «Migrants housed in Dovlatov’s room in St Petersburg» (П-016), and Fontanka.ru the next day — «Homeless classics: will Kharms, Dovlatov and Berggolts find a home» (П-017).
The inventory gives both headlines verbatim. The flat was never bought out: the museum later took over some of the rooms by agreement with the residents — they still live here.
П-018Activists plan to buy out Dovlatov’s flat to turn it into a museumCampaign
In factThe last dated entry of the 2016 campaign — and the organisers’ own worry: they «are not pleased by the media fuss, since it drives the flat’s price up several times over»; the aim is to buy out two rooms by the following year. The next entry on this line is П-022, almost four years later; the buyout comes up again in П-034, when the flat is listed for 200 million.
П-017Homeless classics: will Kharms, Dovlatov and Berggolts find a homeCampaign
П-016Migrants housed in Dovlatov’s room in St PetersburgCampaign
П-015Dovlatov’s admirers to buy out the writer’s communal flatCampaign
П-014Fundraising for a Dovlatov museum to be announced in St PetersburgCampaign
In factThe source of the October 2016 wave: Lev Lurie tells Fontanka.ru of the intention to buy out the flat — «around 100 thousand euros» — and to announce an open fundraising drive within a month. The same day the plan was repeated by П-013 and П-012, on 9 October by П-015, on 24 October by П-018. October 2016 is the densest month of the «Campaign» line: seven entries between 7 and 24 October (П-012–П-018).
П-013Plans to open a Dovlatov museum-apartment on Rubinstein StreetCampaign
П-012A Sergei Dovlatov museum-apartment to open on Rubinstein StreetCampaign
П-011A museum to open in Sergei Dovlatov’s flatCampaign
In factThe first 2016 entry in the campaign sequence: it came out the day after the monument was unveiled outside the house at the first «D Day», 4 September 2016 (see П-010) — the museum is named as the festival’s goal for the following year. On 2 September 2021 П-044 came out under the headline «The writer’s room has become a museum».
П-010Sergei Dovlatov’s St Petersburg. Neighbours and friends tell how they remember the writerD Day
The vote for a museum
21 July 2015 — two entries on a single day: an online vote for a museum in the flat at 23 Rubinstein Street (П-005, П-006). On 24 August two outlets relay the city’s answer: an exhibition will open — but at the «XX Century» Literary Museum, not in the flat (П-007, П-008). On 27 August LitKult prints: «Dovlatov’s flat will not be turned into a museum» (П-009).
Five entries for 2015 — all five on whether there would be a museum at all.
П-009Dovlatov’s flat will not be turned into a museumCampaign
П-008An exhibition dedicated to Dovlatov to open in St PetersburgCampaign
In factThe city’s position five weeks after the vote П-005: acting chairman of the Committee for Culture Alexander Voronko — the flat «is part of St Petersburg’s housing stock», and instead of a museum there will be a section at the «XX Century» Literary Museum; the same refusal in П-007 and П-009. In the end the museum opened without a buyout or resettlement — by agreement with the residents.
П-007An exhibition on Dovlatov’s life and work to open in St PetersburgCampaign
П-006St Petersburg residents ask for a Dovlatov museum to be opened in the cityCampaign
П-005St Petersburg residents support the idea of opening a Sergei Dovlatov museum in the cityCampaign
In factOne of the two earliest dated entries of the campaign for a museum (the second, from the same day, is the original source of the vote, П-006): an online vote by Peterburgsky Avangard — over 85 % of respondents for a museum, of whom almost 72 % for the house at 23 Rubinstein Street; the outlet sent the results to the Committee for Culture.
П-004The Worldwide Dovlatov MuseumCampaign
П-003Leningrad City: the «Tear of Socialism», Dovlatov’s «disgusting communal flat» and Brodsky’s «room and a half» (photos)House
П-002Dovlatov’s St PetersburgHouse
П-001[Sergei Dovlatov’s apartment]House
What the inventory shows
Index of outlets · 53
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Export fields: code, date, outlet, title, author, URL, line, medium, link status, check date, note. Updated together with the page. Links checked 13.09.2026: 110 open, 1 available as a web-archive copy, 0 with access unconfirmed. A gap of more than a year between adjacent dated entries is shown separately. Inventory data — CC BY 4.0.