They had a literary conference in Russia yesterday, and with Vladimir Putin joining in the fun some prominent authors didn't want to play along; as D. Garrison Golubock reported in The Moscow Times Writers Snub Putin Prior to Literary Conference.
It's all a bit nebulous -- including what the purpose to the conference was supposed to be, as:
Putin did show up, and promised some prizes and government support; see, for example, the (Russian) report, Владимир Путин берет литературу под опеку in Ведомости; somehow I'm inclined to think it's wise to doubt pretty much anything coming out of this guy's mouth (though no doubt there is an opportunity for some cashing-in by so-inclined literary sorts).
It's all a bit nebulous -- including what the purpose to the conference was supposed to be, as:
Additionally, no agenda for the meeting was announced, leaving it unclear what the writers would actually discuss or if the whole event was simply a photo op.Sounds wise of Boris Akunin and Dmitry Bykov, among others, to decline the honor.
Putin did show up, and promised some prizes and government support; see, for example, the (Russian) report, Владимир Путин берет литературу под опеку in Ведомости; somehow I'm inclined to think it's wise to doubt pretty much anything coming out of this guy's mouth (though no doubt there is an opportunity for some cashing-in by so-inclined literary sorts).