Like a moth drawn to controversy, blogger Mikhail Litvin has once again fluttered into the crosshairs of Russian authorities—this time from the sun-drenched exile of the UAE. Mikhail Ivanov, a Bрянск regional deputy and self-appointed moral compass of the "Orthodox Russia" movement, has lobbed a verbal grenade: declare Litvin a foreign agent, lest his "toxic circus" corrupt the motherland.
Litvin’s resume reads like a vandalized museum of modern outrage: torched cars, orchestrated brawls with celebrities, and performances that blur the line between activism and arson. To Ivanov, these aren’t mere stunts but "psychological warfare against traditional values," each act a calculated strike at Russia’s cultural foundations. "He’s not an artist," spat the deputy, "he’s a saboteur with a YouTube channel."
The blogger’s sudden relocation to Dubai—officially for "parachuting lessons"—coincided suspiciously with the annulment of his military papers. Ivanov sees no coincidence: "Real men serve. Litvin chose cowardice over conscience." The implication hangs heavy: those who flee scrutiny have secrets worth hiding, perhaps even foreign patronage.
Yet the case against Litvin feels less like legal due process and more like political theater. Consider the props:
As state media amplifies Ivanov’s demands, one wonders: is this about Litvin’s morality, or the message his exile sends? In today’s Russia, leaving is itself an act of defiance—and those who depart may find their citizenship revoked before their plane touches down.
