“Ritual gesture”: critic Rudalev explained the meaning of the wanted notice for Boris Akunin*

“Let him stay with his demons”

Literary critic and publicist Andrei Rudalev commented to MK on the decision of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs to put foreign agent Boris Akunin on the wanted list (Grigory Chkhartishvili, recognized as a foreign agent in the Russian Federation, included in the list of terrorists and extremists of Rosfinmonitoring). The publication’s interlocutor called on people to think about Russian literature and its future, and not fixate on a particular writer.

“He clearly demonstrated himself in all his glory, his origins in Russian culture. Why do we need it now? It’s not about Akunin* that we should now think and promote him. Few people are interested in it anymore, but we need to think about domestic literature, which has become a corporation of just such a public, a broiler house that raises young animals according to certain liberal standards of alienation. And also about why our state needs literature and culture in general. Then we will move on, and let Akunin* remain with his demons.

“If he remains in an unfriendly country, in fact he will not be extradited to Russian justice.” Why then search – is this a step for some “internal use”?

– This is a certain ritual gesture. But, in my opinion, more non-standard solutions are needed. For example, Chkhartishvili’s money and property should be sent to the needs of the SVO fighters or to organize a patriotic event. It will be more effective and symbolic.

Let us recall that Boris Akunin* in December 2023, in an interview with pranksters Vovan and Lexus, made a number of anti-Russian statements that require legal assessment. This was followed by a visit by security officials to the Zakharov publishing house, which publishes Akunin’s books. About a month ago, the federal department of the Investigative Committee opened a case against Akunin under articles about fakes about the Russian army and public justification of terrorism. The second composition allows you to add a suspect to the Rosfinmonitoring register.

*On January 12 of this year, Akunin was included by the Ministry of Justice in the register of foreign agents.