Grandstand. In Putin’s war in Ukraine, a battle is being fought on another front. Last week, as he began bombing Ukrainian cities, he completed the destruction of independent Russian media.
The war on journalism began a long time ago in this country where thousands of Russian journalists bravely fought for freedom of expression during the last twenty-two years of Putin’s rule. But last week almost all free media in Russia shut down, their websites were blocked, putting an end to the work of their teams.
Last week, journalists, but also artists, filmmakers, IT specialists and scientists began to flee Russia en masse. First of all because they do not want to be identified with the regime that is waging this bloody war and refuse to allow the massacres in Ukraine to be perpetrated in their name. Then because they are putting themselves in danger by staying in Russia: the Russian Parliament voted to adopt new amendments to the penal code, henceforth any demonstration against the war will fall under the crime of high treason. By exercising their profession, they can thus make themselves liable to fifteen years’ imprisonment.
The flow of refugees who were employed by the Russian media is considerable. It is a real humanitarian catastrophe comparable to the tragedy that Russia experienced in the aftermath of the 1917 Revolution, when the most educated Russian nationals fled the Bolsheviks. Among those who have left their country, some are now known worldwide and have contributed, to a very large extent, to the influence of the arts and sciences throughout the world.
Nabokov, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky…
Among these refugees are, for example, Nabokov, Rachmaninov, Stravinsky, Diaghilev, Anna Pavlova, Ayn Rand, Bunin, Chagall, Kandinsky and Sikorsky. But the list of those unfortunate people who lost everything in 1918 is much longer. The drama unfolding before our eyes today is just as tragic.
The exodus now taking place in Russia is comparable to the wave of mass emigration that Germany experienced in the 1930s: those who challenged Hitler’s policies fled the country. Among them were Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer, Marlene Dietrich, Thomas Mann, as well as thousands of anonymous people.
Like their predecessors, the Russian exiles today leave their devastated native land. Their long-standing battle for freedom and democracy is now lost. They are forced to abandon their homes and possessions.
You have 39.05% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.