RUSS 005 - Omeka Project - Places

Locations Significant to Contemporary Russia

When examining trends in how feminism/sexuality/gender, church/state, and relations between Russia and the West are being addressed in contemporary Russia, there are three particularly relevant settings. First and foremost are populous urban spaces. Russia's political center (Moscow) and cultural center (St. Petersburg) can be studied to determine their role in setting the stage for activism. Secondly, the contrast between urban centers and rural settings can be studied through the lens of Russian Orthodox influence. Finally, beyond Russian borders, post-Soviet satellites continue to serve as battlegrounds for  Russia-NATO political proxies. All three of these settings are addressed and analyzed in the StoryMap below.

Click here to see the KnightLab StoryMap in full screen.

Each article mentioned in the StoryMap can be found below:

The Side By Side film festival, Russia’s only annual LGBT film festival, was interrupted by police and officials from Russia’s ministry for consumer safety (Rospotrebnadzor) on opening night in St. Petersburg. These officials demanded that festival participants leave the space immediately, using “force and rude language,” which caused the organizers to cancel the screening because of safety concerns. According to Alina Pchelintseva, the festival spokesperson, the police did not offer a reason for why they showed up, and Rospotrebnadzor only had permission to “check for coronavirus prevention measures.” Seemingly, their goal was to intimidate festival organizers into shutting the festival down because they lacked legal justification to do so otherwise.

St. Petersburg Authorities Disrupt LGBT Film Fest Opening

Two members of the Russian feminist music group Pussy Riot were arrested this week for participating in a protest in demand of LGBTQ rights. The activists hung rainbow flags around Moscow on government buildings including the Presidential Executive Office and the Supreme Court. A journalist covering the event, Artyom Radygin, was arrested and later released, although his cell phone was never returned to him. These arrests point to the Russian government's censorship of any form of speech that criticizes or opposes them.

Pussy Riot activists arrested in Moscow for hanging rainbow flags on government buildings to mark Putin’s birthday

Two military servicemen were arrested for "insulting other peoples' religion" by washing their shoes in holy water in a Kaliningrad cathedral. They were arrested using a 2013 law that criminalizes insulting other peoples' religions, which blurs the lines between church and state.

Pair of Russian military servicemen arrested after viral video shows them washing their shoes with holy water

The attorney general has filed suit against a Siberian-based cult and arrested its founding members. This could be an infringement on religious freedom, and could have something to do with the country's COVID-19 response efforts.

Russia’s Attorney General files for dissolution of messianic sect following arrest of its leader

The escalating tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and its implication on the domestic ethnic issue in Russia.

‘Stop the hostilities’ The Kremlin’s stance on renewed fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan

The United States helps Serbia negotiate deal between Serbia and breakaway region Kosovo, normalizing economic relations. Although this came with benefits to US foreign policy (both Serbia and Kosovo plan to build embassies in Jerusalem and the latter will commence diplomatic relations with US ally Israel), political tensions between Serbia and Kosovo will not falter, as the former still refuses to grant independence to the region. Russia remains adamant that Serbia, a major buyer of Russian natural gas, maintain control over the region.

Serbian president Vucic informs Russia’s foreign minister Lavrov about US-brokered deal with Kosovo

Russia's Putin throws Belarus $1.5 billion lifeline