In 2022, with the sending of soldiers to Ukraine, there was a schism in the world of culture, between those who contested and left on their own in the first months, some discreetly, others in the process. making it known as loud as possible, and those who remained loyal. Power now accentuates its hold in all areas.
In the sights of power, especially all artists who have an audience. This past week has provided two examples. The writer Dmitry Glukhovsky, already classified as a foreign agent after leaving Russia, began to be tried in absentia on Tuesday. The author of bestsellers is accused of forgery concerning the Russian armed forces and risks at least a large fine.
Classified foreign agent along with the writer, also targeted by a trial in absentia this week, rap singer Oxxymiron. His protest texts, widely listened to by young people, have been a problem for power for a long time: one of his songs about school shootings has already been classified as “extremist” and banned. A second could follow. She talks about St. Petersburg, but in code words – words that everyone in Russia understands very well – talks about a country that will one day finally be free. An indicator of its immense success: YouTube is supposedly banned in Russia, but since mid-September the song on this platform has garnered 15 million views.
What do we listen to easily in Russia at the moment? Singers who have the favors of power, like the young and blond Shaman. This winner of a telecrochet scraped by until the start of the conflict, but now his title “I am Russian” is on all radio and television and he sings at official concerts, such as the one at the Luzhniki stadium to commemorate the first anniversary of what the power always calls “the special operation in Ukraine”. His concert tickets are 30% more expensive than the average, but it works: the new idol that power puts forward for young people fills the halls. He also performs for free on the ground in the Donbass for the Russian army.
Pushkin museum director fired
At the moment in Russia, it is better to know these artists better. A case has thus made a strong impression in Moscow: a raid by the riot police, the OMONs wearing helmets and dressed in black, on Friday evening March 17 in two bars in the center. The owners are accused of collecting money for the Ukrainian army. During this raid, after paper checks and numerous arrests, a client was forced to paint the “Z” of the special operation on a window. And to top it off, the police also forced some young customers to sing, filmed, a title of “Lioubè”, Vladimir Putin’s favorite group.
This week also saw the dismissal of the director of the Pushkin museum. She is replaced by a former member of the Pro-Kremlin youth movement, also a former employee of the Ministry of the Interior. Already in February, two directions had already changed in two famous museums: the Tretyakov gallery in Moscow, the Russian museum in Saint Petersburg. Each time, it is personalities close to power who have taken the reins.
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