“Siberianization” reflects the Russian authorities’ anti-European course, in which they have chosen complete economic dependence on China instead of cooperation with the West. Meanwhile, in China, there have long been dreams of reclaiming Siberian territories, which are considered there to have been unjustly ceded to the Russian Empire.

The documentary "Russian Winter" about sad political émigrés from Russia was screened at Berlinale during days when residents of Ukrainian cities were suffering from the cold under Russian bombardment. But Austrian director Patrick Chiha did not change the title.

The sharp drop in university admissions last year is easy to explain by government policy, where “loyalty is valued over intelligence.” But the reasons for the crisis in higher education run much deeper.

There are women in the country ready to change politics and society. But mostly, only those who do not challenge the system make it into power. Dissenters are pushed out of politics or subjected to repression.