The New York TimesThe New York Times

Things in Russia aren't as bad as the bad old Soviet days. 'They're worse.'

By Serge Schmemann

09 May 2023 · 5 min read

Editor's Note

Putin is not only bringing back the tyranny of the past, but he is also bringing "shame and alienation" to Russia, doing lasting harm to his people and their culture, argues the NYT's Serge Schmemann.

(Editorial Observer)

It has become commonplace to perceive Vladimir Putin as reverting to Soviet ways. So it seemed natural, shortly after Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested in Russia, that when I ran into a woman I’d known in Moscow back in the Soviet days, I lamented that things were more and more as they had been in those bad old days.

Sign in to informed

  • Curated articles from premium publishers, ad-free
  • Concise Daily Briefs with quick-read summaries
  • Read, listen, save for later, or enjoy offline
  • Enjoy personalized content
Or

LoginForm.agreeToTerms