Putin, Ventriloquism, and Free Speech
The Russian government has gotten back into the story business. This is bad news for people who like to tell stories of their own, but good news for people… More
“The ongoing crackdown on civil society is truly unprecedented”
Those who dare speak out—be it about their sexual identity or their discontent with governmental policies—are threatened with punishment and blackened in the eyes of society. More
What Would Vladimir Putin Do?
What would Brian Boitano do? He'd parody some lyrics to highlight free expression violations in Russia, of course. More
Russia in Between Security and Democracy
The book market is not noticeably being censored. What is evident, however, is that innovative and controversial literature is being plucked out of the canon (thereby causing it to… More
Day of Rage
we checked it all out, twice we passed / the policeman in his sentry-box… / when we dispersed in the half gloom of side-streets / I noted this image:… More
Russia today is like a lost chapter from Orwell
The media has a right to question Russia, but cannot do so when the state is fostering an increasing sense of nationalism, writes Lyudmila Ulitskaya More
Writers Denounce Repressive Russian Laws in Open Letter
More than 200 writers from around the world have signed an open letter to the Russian authorities denouncing the introduction of gay-propaganda and blasphemy laws in Russia, which they… More
Dear President Putin
Over 200 writers from across the globe have joined PEN in calling for the repeal of punitive new laws that severely restrict freedom of expression in Russia. In an… More
What is the Literary Scene in Russia Like Today?
The literary process is now organized as show business, with flashy presentations and contests, ratings, quizzes, and so on. Serious authors conduct TV shows and even advertise consumer goods. More
So Here We Are
They were handcuffed in pairs, across the wire, and only then allowed to stand up. The first was a Russian, a tall, lean lad in a blue vest and… More
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