New Russian-Language Cultural Media, Publishing Houses, and Bookstores in Europe

Abstract

This article reviews the emergent Russian-language cultural media, publishing houses, and bookstores in Europe. Their emergence has been a response to the changes that have occurred in Russia over the past two years. In April 2023, the publishing house Freedom Letters was established. It publishes contemporary Russian-language prose, poetry, and drama, among other genres. Additionally, the book club and publishing house BAbook, initiated by writer and historian Boris Akunin, recently started operations. One of the main new Russian-language media platforms is Radio Sakharov, created by former employees of the Sakharov Center. This online resource includes the podcast "Make a Scene!" which focuses on recent emigration among members of the theater world. Another significant event was the opening of the Babel Books Berlin bookstore in the fall of 2023. What objectives do these and other initiatives set for themselves? What challenges do they face? How do they operate in complex socio-political conditions?