During a public presentation about the book Sandormokh, Irina Fliege, a human rights advocate and director of the Memorial Research Center, spoke to attendees. The center, listed by the Ministry of Justice as a foreign agent organization, drew attention as the discussion unfolded on a Telegram channel managed by Boris Vishnevsky, a deputy in the city Legislative Assembly.
The event featured a performance titled Dramaturgy of Meanings at the Inner Theatre, accompanied by commentary on the Sandormokh project and its historical significance. The evening drew a mix of readers, researchers, and curious residents who gathered to engage with the material and its broader implications.
According to Vishnevsky, there was what he described as an opposition incident involving alleged foreign agents. He noted that police were unable to locate any agents, yet continued to stay at the venue. Vishnevsky later claimed that authorities were considering confiscating a copy of the book under the pretense of a verification check, a move he described as an overreach in the context of cultural inquiry.
Vishnevsky further stated that police had collected information from the event attendees, recorded their statements, and seized a copy of the book for examination. He emphasized that no accusations were made against the event organizers or the participants themselves. The gathering concluded once the police departed, leaving attendees to reflect on the proceedings and the themes raised by the book.
Sandormokh refers to a location about 19 kilometers from Mezhyegorsk in Karelia. The site is historically notable for the many individuals who were executed and buried there during oppressive periods. Irina Fliege played a role in the discovery and documentation of Sandormokh, linking the place to broader discussions about memory, justice, and the interpretation of past events in the region.
In other contemporary developments, a day earlier a singer known as Charlotte faced the initiation of multiple criminal cases in Russia, illustrating the ongoing climate surrounding public figures and political discourse. Additionally, a prior case involving an ex-fiancee of a public figure named Volochkova has been recognized as involving alleged fraud, underscoring the continued attention to personal and public life in the media landscape.