Elena Martn was born in Ukraine but became a Citizen of Russia in 2021. Elena did not understand why her name was changed, nor did she know that it meant she was no longer Jewish. Elena never gave an explanation to her US citizenship paperwork, nor has she ever provided any documentation to prove or support the fact that she is not Jewish.
Elena is not your typical “Cultural Jew” and did not become a Russian because of her nationality. Elena is an artist. She has written extensively on philosophy, literature and art but has refused to accept that her artistic bent of mind and personal choice of subject matter automatically make her a Russian citizen, even though both of her parents were Jewish. Elena also has the intellect and common sense of a twenty-first century woman, which is not something most men are expected or capable of achieving in today’s society. Her lack of interest in traditional gender roles may be considered irrelevant by some, but for many people who have been reading Elena’s work for years, her stance on gender roles and family structure is a personal choice and one that is completely understandable.
Elena is the sort of woman who knows her way around the world’s complexities and enjoys using her mind and learning new skills along the way. Elena is in a unique position to be writing about nationality, age and gender issues while keeping her personal life and professional relationships in strictly business terms. Elena is smart enough to know that if she is going to be a partner in a prestigious publishing house she needs to be seen as a person, not just as a figurehead. Elena wants people to see her as a real person with her own thoughts and opinions just like everyone else. Her desire to learn about international business and the legal ramifications of accepting a position in a certain country may have nothing to do with her citizenship status, but it is surely what is driving her desire to be lionized by her publishers, and to use her position to further her career.