True Russia
Настоящая Россия
Abbreviationtr
LeaderBoris Akunin
Managing directorOleg Radzinsky
FoundersMikhail Baryshnikov
Sergei Guriev
Founded9 March 2022 (2022-03-09)
IdeologyLiberal democracy
Pacifism
Anti-Putinism
Political positionBig tent
Colours  Blue
  Black
Slogan«Anti-war, pro-democracy»
(Russian: «Против войны, за демократию»)
Website
truerussia.org

True Russia (tr ; Russian: Настоящая Россия, romanized: Nastoyashchaya Rossiya) is a charity opposed to 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine by uniting people of Russian culture around the world in their will to support the victims.[1] It was founded by writer Boris Akunin, dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov and economist Sergei Guriev. The project is dedicated to helping Ukrainian refugees, as well as people who were forced to leave Russia after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[2][3][4][5] The project's website emphasizes that it is not a political movement and not affiliated with any party or politician.[6]

History

The project was organized on 9 March 2022, when fundraising began to help Ukrainian refugees.[7]

On 17 March, in an interview with the BBC, Akunin said that the project is primarily focused on the Russian diaspora, on the people, and that participation in any pacifist and even more so pro-Ukrainian campaigns now poses a certain risk for Russians living in Russia.[8]

After Akunin announced his anti-war position, stores in Russia began to withdraw his book from sale.[9]

On 24 May, the project website was blocked by Roskomnadzor by decision of the Prosecutor-General's Office of the Russian Federation.[10][3]

In July, it was reported that the organization had raised more than £1 million to help refugees.[11]

In December 2023, the project was designated as an "undesirable organization", having previously been labeled a "foreign agent".[12].

References

  1. ^ ""Русским будет очень трудно» Борис Акунин — о создании гуманитарно-культурного движения «Настоящая Россия"". Новая газета (in Russian). 2022-03-16. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  2. ^ "Борис Акунин: "Это последняя глава путинского государства началась"". BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  3. ^ a b "Михаил Барышников обратился с письмом к Владимиру Путину". Радио Свобода (in Russian). June 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  4. ^ "Борис Акунин: «Чем ближе будет к концу, тем чернее будет эта ночь»". ГОЛОС АМЕРИКИ (in Russian). 18 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  5. ^ "Разговор о важном. В Лондоне прошла камерная встреча с Борисом Акуниным". ZIMA Magazine (in Russian). 2022-03-29. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  6. ^ "About us".
  7. ^ Бумага (2022-03-10). "Акунин, Барышников и Гуриев собирают средства для украинских беженцев". «Бумага» (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  8. ^ ""Думаю, что последняя глава путинского государства началась". Борис Акунин о войне и "Настоящей России"". BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). 2022-03-17. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  9. ^ "Московский магазин снял с продажи книги Бориса Акунина". Секрет Фирмы. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  10. ^ "«Вашему русскому миру, миру страха не бывать». Один из создателей «Настоящей России» Михаил Барышников в обращении к Путину высказался о блокировке сайта проекта". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  11. ^ "Как «Настоящая Россия» продолжает помогать украинским беженцам". ZIMA Magazine (in Russian). 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  12. ^ "Russia Outlaws Exiled Anti-War Projects, Investigative Journalism NGO as 'Undesirable'". The Moscow Times. December 27, 2023.
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