December 23, 2022

Dangerous Dreams


Dangerous Dreams
George Orwell's book "1984"  Ivan Radic, Flickr

Russian crackdowns on dissent are only becoming more draconian.

A court in Chita, Zabaykalsky Krai, fined 26-year-old entrepreneur Ivan Losev for sharing (on Instagram) a detailed description of his dream about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the Telegram channel Astra, Losev’s Instagram post contained the following text:

"Today I dreamed I was mobilized and taken to some kind of training camp, and then the Ukrainian army, led by Zelensky, stormed in. They captured everyone and were going to shoot us. At that moment, Zelensky walks past me and says, 'Oh, I saw your stories on Instagram, Glory to Ukraine!' I responded, 'Glory to the Heroes!' Zelensky cheerfully pats me on the shoulder and says, 'Let him go, but shoot the rest.' So, we are standing there, looking at this, and I ask him, 'Can I take a selfie with you for Instagram?' Zelensky says, 'You can.'"

According to Sibir.Realii, the FSB opened an investigation into Losev’s post in September. A few months later, on December 8, the Chita court found Losev guilty of discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation. He was ordered to pay a R30,000 ($460) fine.

Then, a week later, police launched an administrative probe of Ivan Losev's mother. She was charged with discrediting the Russian army for her activity on the social network Odnoklassniki. Apparently, she "liked" a post that said that Crimea is part of Ukraine, and another post that was anti-Putin.

A law against the discrediting of the Russian army was passed in March 2022. It provides for fines of up to R300,000 ($4,600) or a penalty of up to three years in prison. According to Mediazona, since March security forces have filed over 5,000 reports against Russians for discrediting the armed forces for everything from listening to Ukrainian music, standing while holding a blank sheet of paper, comparing Vladimir Putin with the anti-hero of Crime and Punishment, and "silent support" during a protest action.

You Might Also Like

The Wrong Kind of Patriotism
  • November 30, 2022

The Wrong Kind of Patriotism

A student in Karelia was reportedly disciplined for wearing a sweatshirt with an American flag on it.
Dangerous 10-year-olds
  • October 10, 2022

Dangerous 10-year-olds

Moscow police have detained a 10-year-old girl for using a yellow and blue avatar in her online chats with friends.
Mrs. Crimea Under Fire
  • October 11, 2022

Mrs. Crimea Under Fire

A regional beauty pageant winner is under investigation by Russian police after singing a patriotic Ukrainian song (on the internet).
Sci-fi Author, Meet Dystopia
  • June 14, 2022

Sci-fi Author, Meet Dystopia

A well-known science fiction author has been placed on the Kremlin's wanted list for protesting the war in Ukraine.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices
May 01, 2013

Stargorod: A Novel in Many Voices

Stargorod is a mid-sized provincial city that exists only in Russian metaphorical space. It has its roots in Gogol, and Ilf and Petrov, and is a place far from Moscow, but close to Russian hearts. It is a place of mystery and normality, of provincial innocence and Black Earth wisdom. Strange, inexplicable things happen in Stargorod. So do good things. And bad things. A lot like life everywhere, one might say. Only with a heavy dose of vodka, longing and mystery.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955