The first time I went, a year ago, it was for its section of modern Russian authors in translation. Last Friday, the national parliament, the State Duma, adopted a law threatening up to 15 years in prison for anyone found to be spreading fake news about the Russian military. No surprise, then, that in the lead-up to the Russian military operation in Ukraine, Moscow was defiant. Clearly no one was ready for the walls that have been erected, for the swift and bloodless severing of Russia and Russians from the world. It has become the symbol of support for the Russian army, the mission and the man behind it all — Putin.

Source: The Star March 12, 2022 01:24 UTC