Russia bans zombie novel, labels author 'foreign agent'
The Russian prosecutor's office has deemed that the novel about a zombie apocalypse could threaten the "social order." Roskomnadzor, the body overseeing literature and media in the country, demands the removal of Ivan Filippov's book "Mouse" from sale. The author himself has been recognised by the authorities as a "foreign agent."
The Federal Service for the Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media sent a letter to one of the bookstores, demanding the removal of Ivan Filippov's novel "Mouse" from sale. Roskomnadzor asserted that the novel, which tells the story of a zombie apocalypse in Russia, spreads "false information about acts of terrorism and other unreliable information of social significance."
The book contains dangerous contents that could endanger the lives and health of Russians who read it. In Roskomnadzor's opinion, the novel sneaks in "informational materials" aimed at "destabilising the socio-political situation in Russia."
It is not only the novel that has come under the scrutiny of Russian authorities. In April of this year, its author Ivan Filippov was recognised by the Russian Ministry of Justice as a "foreign agent." The prosecutor's office found in his work not only "unreliable information" aimed at portraying Russia negatively, but also defamation of the Russian army and opposition to the war in Ukraine.
This is not the first time that Russian authorities fear a book
In December 2022, Vladimir Putin signed a law banning "LGBT propaganda" in art, film, and advertising. It was suggested that the Russian dictator might have been scared of the success of a book that told the love story of two boys who met during a pioneer camp.
"Summer in a Pioneer Scarf" was written by two teenagers, Elena Malisova and Katerina Silvanova. Their book sold 200,000 copies in Russia, and many young Russians posted pictures of the publication on their social media. The success of the book and the authorities' disapproval of its topic forced the young authors to leave Russia.
