‘Slave to fear’: Ghosts of the gulag haunt modern Russia

When Russians began being arrested for opposing the Ukraine offensive, Maria felt the identical form of concern she guessed her ancestors, victims of repression beneath Soviet chief Josef Stalin, should have lived by way of.

Now 2½ years into its army offensive, Russia has imprisoned lots of for protesting or talking out in opposition to the marketing campaign — even in personal — in a crackdown that has paralyzed the Kremlin’s home critics.

“It is not regular once you begin behaving like your ancestors did. Twitching each time the cellphone rings … considering on a regular basis about who you’re speaking with and what you’re speaking about,” mentioned Maria, a 47-year-old from Moscow.