On 21 December literary critic ALEXANDER ARKHANGELSKY spoke, at a meeting of the Council on Culture and Art with the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, about the pressure being put on cultural figures and the need to humanise Russian culture and society. “If such things take place at the federal level, in the glare of … Continue reading “Society must become more humane”, Arkhangelsky to Putin
officialdom*
Russia – Past, Present and Future
THE OFFICIAL VIEW “As Russia marks the centenary of the October Revolution, President Vladimir Putin has urged the society to end discord over the Soviet era,” reported the TASS news agency[1] on 21 December 2017. "This year, the centenary of the October Revolution, we have been seeking to encourage the society to abandon confrontation, to … Continue reading Russia – Past, Present and Future
Official Western responses
In July 2017 Deliya Meylanova contacted her Member of Parliament, Catherine West, about the trial of Yury Dmitirev. In turn Catherine West (Labour) wrote to SIR ALAN DUNCAN, a Conservative MP at the Foreign Office. On 13 September, Duncan sent his fellow MP a reply: Source: Deliya Meylanova, Facebook; posted 31 October 2017, on «Дело … Continue reading Official Western responses
The Day of Remembrance in Petrozavodsk
On Monday, 30 October 2017, the Karelian capital Petrozavodsk marked the annual Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Political Repression. At the city’s Zaretskoe Graveyard and then at Krasny Bor access to the microphone was limited to those who talked about spiritual values, Holy Russia and forgiveness. Your correspondent observed how official Karelia strove … Continue reading The Day of Remembrance in Petrozavodsk
Putin unveils monument in Moscow
Amid controversy over his own methods of maintaining control over Russia, President Vladimir Putin has unveiled a memorial dedicated to victims of Soviet-era government repression and said the years of suffering at the hands of the state must never be forgotten. Putin was speaking at the opening ceremony for the Wall Of Sorrow on 30 … Continue reading Putin unveils monument in Moscow
The Dmitriev Affair 