Two Komi Poets Face Extremism Inquiry Over Cross-Themed Verses
Two Orthodox poets from Komi find themselves under scrutiny after their verses about the cross drew attention from a Moscow-based literary critic who filed complaints about what he described as a negative stance toward Russians who do not embrace Orthodoxy. The reports originated on the Telegram channel Mash, which has been cited in connection with the case. [Source: Mash Telegram channel]
The applicant asserts that Evelina Pizhenko and Nadezhda Miroshnichenko, both poets from Komi, express views that disparage Russians who are not adherents of Orthodoxy. The case highlights a broader debate about the boundaries of artistic expression versus extremist content, particularly when religious themes are used in poetic works. The critic noted lines he interpreted as asserting a distinction between those with faith and those without, a claim he says should be examined under extremism statutes. In response, officials in Komi will review the poets’ writings to determine whether any portion of the poems crosses legal lines.
The complainant also reports that after informing authorities, he began receiving threats from supporters of Pizhenko’s and Miroshnichenko’s poetry. The situation underscores concerns about safety and freedom of expression for writers who engage sensitive religious topics and engage audiences that react strongly to such material.
Meanwhile, a separate media development was reported by a St. Petersburg channel associated with the music scene. Aiva TV was noted to have incurred a fine, reported at half a million rubles, for what was described as LGBT propaganda linked to a video by Sergei Lazarev titled So Beautiful. This incident has appeared in coverage alongside discussions of dramatized media content and potential legal actions against creators who address LGBTQ themes in contemporary pop culture. [Source: internal media coverage]
In another development, observers recall prior reporting that a program titled Closed Show, featuring Gordon, is expected to return to Channel One. The balance between creative programming and regulatory boundaries continues to be a topic of ongoing conversation among Russian media watchers. [Source: industry briefing]