This Cursed Beautiful Land

Beskrivelse

This gripping memoir shares the story of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was wrongfully detained in Russia for over a year. It offers a rare, firsthand look at the dangers and contradictions within an autocratic Russia during a turbulent time.

An insider’s account of life under Putin’s regime and the harrowing experience of wrongful imprisonment.

In March 2023, just a year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Evan Gershkovich met with a union leader linked to a Russian tank factory. While sitting with his source in a deserted restaurant far east of Moscow, masked agents from the FSB stormed in, blindfolded him, and forced him into an unmarked van. These agents belonged to Putin’s powerful security service, the successor to the Soviet-era KGB.

Five years prior, Evan had moved to Moscow to launch his journalism career. Born in New Jersey to parents who emigrated from the Soviet Union in the 1970s, he grew up fascinated by Soviet cartoons and visits to Brighton Beach. Once in Moscow, he immersed himself in the city’s life, reporting on politics for The Moscow Times and building close friendships with Russians navigating dangerous times.

While Western journalists had long felt shielded from the risks faced by their Russian colleagues, the war changed everything. After his arrest, Evan was interrogated for hours, accused of spying, and imprisoned in the infamous Lefortovo prison. Reduced to a small cell, he became a pawn in a larger geopolitical struggle.

Remarkably, Evan continued his reporting throughout sixteen months behind bars. He documented a side of Russia few outsiders witness-the sprawling prison system, its unique language and customs, and unexpected moments of humanity. His narrative blends gripping detail with humor as he recounts the events leading up to his arrest, his time in Russian prisons, and the dramatic, international prisoner exchange that secured his release.

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