Ukrainian organizations call on the world to boycott Russian books

A number of Ukrainian organizations call on the world book community to stop the spread of Russian narratives through book publishing and other cultural products

This is stated in an appeal signed by the Ukrainian Book Institute, Lviv International Bookforum, "Ukrainian PEN" and Book Arsenal, Rubryka writes.

The organizations appealed to:

• stop the distribution of books by Russian authors through online platforms, distributors, offline and online bookstores;
• stop buying rights from Russian publishers and selling their own licenses to Russian publishers;
• cancel the participation of the stand of Russia, Russian publishers, cultural centers, and authors in all international book exhibitions and literary festivals;
• stop providing grants for translations of works by contemporary Russian authors.

"Narratives of Russian propaganda fill many books, which in this way become weapons and are used to start a war […]

As a result of Russia's propaganda activities in the field of literature and book publishing, many authors, literary agents, publishers and distributors from around the world are unknowingly participating in its dissemination and infecting more and more citizens of their countries", the statement goes.

The organizations noted that Lithuania has already initiated a boycott of Russian publishers at international book fairs.

The organizers of the Frankfurt Book Fair supported this decision.

However, they note that this boycott should be expanded and new sanctions imposed, which would completely isolate Russia and stop Russia from using the culture as the tool of expansion.