Support The Moscow Times!

Investigators Searching for Moscow Readers Who Borrowed Books on Ukraine Famine

A bust of Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko is displayed at the Library of Ukrainian Literature in Moscow, Russia.

Russian investigators are reportedly searching for visitors to the Moscow Library of Ukrainian Literature who borrowed books on Ukrainian history and the Holodomor, the man-made famine that killed up to 7.5 million people in 1930s Ukraine, the unian.net news website reported Wednesday.

The news website reported that investigators are requesting the personal information of library visitors who borrowed books 18, eight and six years ago, citing an unidentified source at the library.

The titles of the borrowed books are “Horde mentality,” “Ukraine and death,” and “Famine in Ukraine.”

The library currently carrying out a stock-take and review of all books, with many employees being threatened with dismissal.

Library director Natalya Sharina is under house arrest until April 28 on two charges of embezzlement. Sharina was arrested on March 31 after being accused of inciting ethnic hatred and humiliating human dignity.

If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in prison.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more