I love documentaries about complicated subjects, and indeed, the relationship between the U.S. and Russia is highly complicated. Vera Krichevskaya’s documentary Connected is the story of an unlikely friendship between a Russian and an American that ended in a sad and poignant manner.
Our story begins 30 years ago, not long after the fall of the Soviet Union. With perestroika in place, Russia was looking to get back on its feet. Along came the fateful tour of college students, which included a young college graduate, Augie Fabela. During that tour, he met a former top-secret Soviet scientist, Dr. Dmitry Zimin.
Soon, a business relationship formed between the two. Russia desperately needed to develop a national telecom system to bring phone lines and other communication to the Russian people. Their enthusiasm helped push the project forward, and in 1992, they created the communications company VimpelCom.
With limited help from the Russian government, VimpelCom proved to be a viable and successful company, but it needed more money. To avoid falling under Russian control and influence through loans, VimpelCom became the first Russian company to go public on the New York Stock Exchange.
As interesting as this business story is, Connected primarily focuses on the friendship between Fabela and Zimin, with an emphasis on Zimin. For the longest time, the Soviet Union and the United States were sworn enemies. Then, the Berlin Wall fell, fostering a new relationship between the two superpowers. While Russia’s history from the Cold War to today has been widely covered in U.S. media, Zimin’s story provides a rare firsthand perspective from within Russia.
“VimpelCom became the first Russian company to go public on the New York Stock Exchange.”
When Zimin was two years old, his father was killed by Stalin in the Gulag. As a result, Zimin kept his head down and never joined the Communist Party. When the Soviet Union failed, he formed VimpelCom, but it was not easy. Zimin’s only lifeline was Russian President Boris Yeltsin. If he did not survive a coup and a heart attack, VimpelCom would have been dust.
Zimin then talks about his struggles against the Russian mob, who wanted company shares in exchange for protection. Fast-forward to the 2010s, when Zimin became an outspoken opponent of Russia’s attempt to overtake Ukraine. His public statement would be his undoing. There’s even more to this story, especially concerning Zimin’s death a few years ago and Augie Fabela’s unexpected role in shaping geopolitical history. Today, Fabela has taken an unexpected turn—he’s now a police officer.
Connected is a unique glimpse into world history that Americans don’t know about. Every coin has two sides, and Krichevskaya’s documentary fills many gaps Americans need to fill. Zimin is a fascinating and heroic character. He lived a harrowing life and became wealthy as a result. When he finally cashed in, he gave most of his money to education. In my humble opinion, our personal politics should be based on facts, which is challenging when buried under mountains of propaganda. Connected sheds light on the truth.
Connected is a sobering yet illuminating dive into the complicated world of U.S.-Russia relations, viewed through the profoundly personal lens of an unexpected friendship. Vera Krichevskaya’s narrative transcends business and politics, revealing Dmitry Zimin’s resilience and sacrifices. His story challenges assumptions, sheds light on the human cost of geopolitical shifts, and, most importantly, refuses to let the past be forgotten.
"…His public statement would be his undoing."
