When Russia Finally Protested – Over a Condo |
This article was originally published on Mikhail Zygar’s Substack, The Last Pioneer.
On Dec. 16, the Russian Supreme Court issued what was perhaps the most widely discussed ruling in its history. More than 170,000 people watched the court hearing live. And the session ended in a surprising way: Larisa Dolina — the most talked-about figure in Russia over the past month, a well-known pop singer and the most hated person in the country — lost the case. Yet the court case concerned nothing more than the property rights to her apartment.
In the public discourse, this everyday domestic issue turned out to be far more important than the ongoing war against Ukraine, the negotiations between Kremlin representatives and Donald Trump’s team, the new sanctions, the corruption scandal in Ukraine or any other international news.
Something nearly unbelievable and virtually unprecedented happened in the country: for a brief moment, Russian civil society rebelled, reacting to the blatant injustice and arbitrariness of the Russian courts. The irony, however, is that this surge of public outrage was not directed against the authorities themselves. The target of nationwide anger became the pop diva Larisa Dolina.
To begin with, one must explain who Larisa Dolina is. She is 70 years old and one of the most recognizable singers in Russia. For many years, she has belonged to the musical establishment. She has not produced any new hits for a long time, but state officials have consistently treated her with favor, awarding her honorary titles and inviting her to perform regularly. She is especially beloved by the older generation: Dolina is often hired to perform at private events, including those organized by state officials and security agencies.
Since 2003, Larisa Dolina has been a member of the ruling party, United Russia. She has always supported President Vladimir Putin without reservation, performed at every concert backing the Russian authorities and their policies, openly supports the war against Ukraine and publicly condemns the “traitors” who........