Cultural Calendar Codified

On June 13, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed into law an initiative for "cultural policy" for the next two years that seeks to unify the Russian people in the face of ongoing conflict.

The policy outlines over 200 cultural events to be sponsored by Moscow. They are organized into eight themes, among which are "preserving the cultural heritage of the peoples of Russia," "strengthening civic identity," and "strengthening and expanding the influence of Russian culture abroad."

The move comes as Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine grinds on. In response to international isolation, the Kremlin has moved towards a message of unity and cultural patriotism marked by military demonstrations and the education of children. It has also made its War on Ukraine a cornerstone of the new culture.

At the same time, though, some of Russia's influential cultural players have found themselves exiled or imprisoned for their work. For instance, bestselling author Dmitri Glukhovsky of the Metro book and video game series was added to the Kremlin's "wanted" list of artists who had run afoul of Moscow. Glukhovsky has been vocal in his opposition to the war and Russia's authoritarianism. Other artists have faced prison time.