(un)freedom

Sergey Lebedenko 1993 — a native of Krasnodar, a graduate of MGIMO and HSE; worked as a court correspondent for Novaya Gazeta, collaborated as a literary reviewer and critic with the portals RBC, Afisha Daily, Prochtenie, and others. He runs a Telegram channel about literature Bookszhary, a laureate of the Litblog-2020 award. Journalist Oleg dreams of a career as a lawyer and writes reports from the courtroom. Student Sasha, whose father was randomly detained while passing by a rally and ended up in a colony, develops plans to save him. Judge Marina is preparing to become the chairwoman of one of Moscow's courts, but suddenly her life is also destroyed by the state machine... The fates of all three will be united by the theatrical case — a battlefield for the siloviki, businessmen, and officials for power and control over minds. Political intrigues ensure careers — and ruin lives, while a ridiculous coincidence sets the wheel of violence in motion... Unfreedom — Sergey Lebedenko's debut novel about the constraining yet alluring force of power. A novel we have long awaited, which comes true with frightening rapidity. Marina Stepanova The judicial novel by Sergey Lebedenko — a text that is rare for our latitudes. In an era accentuating personal trauma, it speaks of social trauma. The theatrical case here has its own, but is by no means less theatrical. On stage — a black box with the inscription court, and everyone unwilling is invited to play in it. The banality of evil does not negate the need to outline its boundaries and name it. The name of this rose — unfreedom. Dmitry Zakharov