Putin's war and Russian society

Irina Scherbakowa in conversation with Carola Schneider

Putin's war and Russian society
Is there a way out?

After the Russian attack on Ukraine, Sherbakova left her home country. In a newspaper interview, Scherbakowa complained that critical voices on Russia had not been heard enough in Germany: „We have repeatedly said where the journey in Russia is going - even though I certainly did not imagine this catastrophe,“ said Scherbakowa. At the same time, she condemned the pro-government and pro-war stance of the Russian Orthodox Church. Sherbakova described Russian President Vladimir Putin's world view as „a poisonous mixture of nationalism, imperialism, resentment and contempt for other peoples and republics that have liberated themselves from the Soviet Union“

Irina Scherbakowa is one of the most prominent voices in Russian civil society. Born in Moscow in 1949, she is a historian and co-founder of the human rights organisation Memorial. The organisation investigates the crimes of Stalinist tyranny. Memorial has been banned in Russia since the end of last year. In Germany, Scherbakowa has been honoured with the Goethe Medal, among other awards. She is the author and editor of numerous publications on the Gulag and Stalinism. Her most recent book published in German is „Die Hände meines Vaters. A Russian Family History“.

Carola Schneider, ORF, worked in the political editorial department of the ORF regional studio in Vorarlberg from 1996 to 2001. Schneider has worked as an ORF foreign correspondent since 2001, initially in Paris until 2003 and then in Zurich until 2011. From 2011 to 2021, she headed the ORF correspondent office in Moscow. Carola Schneider is currently on educational leave and continues to live in Moscow. In 2017, she published her book „Mein Russland. Encounters in a contradictory country“ was published in 2017.

In co-operation with the Austrian Women's Council