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
From the Cycle of Poems “Cognitive capitalism”
I descended into the subway, I saw the homeless / with plastic bags on their heads, / with garbage gags in their mouths, like mummies / in mausolea of… More
Sochi Winter Olympics Campaign: Out in the Cold
In the weeks leading up to the Sochi Winter Olympic Games (February 7-23), PEN will be protesting the draconian restrictions placed on free expression in Russia since President Vladimir… More
Pussy Riot Will Be Free; Speech in Russia Will Not
(PEN International)—Whilst the amnesty granted to the two imprisoned members of Pussy Riot – Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Mariya Alekhina – is to be welcomed, we must view it for… More
Fighting for Press Freedom in Russia
A real-life legal battle is being waged by the Russian authorities against journalists who for years have seen their work severely intimidated. More
PEN Urges Obama to Press Russia on Expression; Russian Writers Speak Out
New laws in Russia barring religious offense and 'homosexual propaganda' are troubling signs of an increasingly restrictive environment for freedom of expression. More
Support for the freedom to read with exclusive designs by Todd Parr, Mike Curato, Art Spiegelman, and more!
