Behind bars in Moscow. Kira Yarmysh and Jette F. Christensen

What is life like for young and regime-critical Russians today? Kira Yarmysh is best known in Russia as a spokeswoman for the Russian oppositional politician Alexei Navalny. Now her debut novel Incredible Incidents in Women's Cell No. 3 is making headlines. In Russia, the book was quickly branded as "gay propaganda" by Russian authorities, due to depictions of same-sex love. Throughout the book, Yarmysh depicts a modern and contrast-filled Russia. Like her main character, Yarmysh is no stranger to the inside of a Russian prison cell, having herself been arrested at several demonstrations. She has been open about the book being based on her own experiences.At the House of Literature, Yarmysh met Norwegian politician Jette F. Christensen for a conversation about Yarmysh’s novel. Christensen is a political scientist and former parliamentary representative, with more than ten years of experience from the Storting's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Today she is Vice President of the Council of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.