In a wood on the edge of St Petersburg they're reading out a list of names. Each name is a victim of the Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin's Great Terror. In this part of Russia there are thousands of names to be read. Thousands of lives to remember on Russia's annual Remembrance Day for Victims of Political Repression. Buried in the Levashovo Wasteland are believed to be at least 20,000 people - possibly as many as 45,000 - who were denounced, shot and disposed of in mass graves; individuals, as well as whole families destroyed in the dictatorial purges of the 1930s. Nailed to the trunks of pine trees are portraits of the executed. Standing here you can feel the ghosts of Russia's past.
Today, Russian authorities speak less about Stalin's crimes against his people, preferring to portray the dictator as a victorious wartime leader. In recent years, a series of repressive laws have been adopted to punish dissent and silence critics, especially regarding the Ukraine conflict. Kremlin opponents may not be denounced as enemies of the people anymore, but they risk being labeled as foreign agents.
Diana Loginova, a music student in St Petersburg and lead singer of the band Stoptime, has seen the consequences of this repression firsthand. Following an improvised street concert where she performed songs by exiled artists critical of the government, Diana was arrested and faced charges for organizing a public gathering without permission. Despite having spent time in jail, her legal troubles are far from over.
Supported by her mother and friends, Diana expressed surprise at the exaggeration of the accusations against her, stating, All we were doing was bringing the music we like to a mass audience. The struggle to share their music is emblematic of the current conflict between cultural expression and authoritarian control in Russia.
While Diana’s plight has garnered attention, the situation reflects a broader context where young artists are increasingly targeted for expressing dissent. The case of Diana Loginova serves not only as a stark reminder of the past repressive measures under Stalin but also highlights the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression in contemporary Russia.
Today, Russian authorities speak less about Stalin's crimes against his people, preferring to portray the dictator as a victorious wartime leader. In recent years, a series of repressive laws have been adopted to punish dissent and silence critics, especially regarding the Ukraine conflict. Kremlin opponents may not be denounced as enemies of the people anymore, but they risk being labeled as foreign agents.
Diana Loginova, a music student in St Petersburg and lead singer of the band Stoptime, has seen the consequences of this repression firsthand. Following an improvised street concert where she performed songs by exiled artists critical of the government, Diana was arrested and faced charges for organizing a public gathering without permission. Despite having spent time in jail, her legal troubles are far from over.
Supported by her mother and friends, Diana expressed surprise at the exaggeration of the accusations against her, stating, All we were doing was bringing the music we like to a mass audience. The struggle to share their music is emblematic of the current conflict between cultural expression and authoritarian control in Russia.
While Diana’s plight has garnered attention, the situation reflects a broader context where young artists are increasingly targeted for expressing dissent. The case of Diana Loginova serves not only as a stark reminder of the past repressive measures under Stalin but also highlights the ongoing struggle for freedom of expression in contemporary Russia.
