Rave at Russia’s main state library sparks backlash from pro-war commentators
The Russian State Library, also known as the Leninka, hosted “LitRAVE” overnight from October 31 to November 1. The publishing group Eksmo-AST and the library jointly organized the event. About 3,000 people gathered in the reading rooms on three dance floors playing techno, electronic pop, and ambient music, according to Eksmo-AST.
The Russian State Library, also known as the Leninka, hosted a rave event called "LitRAVE" on October 31 and November 1. Around 3,000 people attended, gathering in the reading rooms to enjoy techno, electronic pop, and ambient music. Pro-war poet Anna Revyakina opened the event, along with performance art, light installations, and an exhibition of literary memes.
The rave drew criticism from pro-war bloggers and pro-government activists, who likened the event to "Satan's ball." Yekaterina Mizulina, who heads the Safe Internet League, expressed concern that books could have been taken from the library while attendees were distracted. Propagandists were also outraged by the event.
The Russian State Library does not store books in its reading rooms. Instead, readers request them. The library defended its decision, stating it aimed to attract young readers and introduce them to the "language of Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, and Pushkin." Eksmo-AST, the publishing group that organized the event, said they had considered safety measures and emphasized that the library suffered no damage.
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