‘Sergei Besov, a Moscow-based printer and artist, has given an interview to Associated Press about his project, Partisan Press, which started making posters saying “No to war” when Russia began its latest invasion of Ukraine. He says he felt he couldn’t stay silent.
Video of the poster being printed became popular on Instagram, and demand for copies was so great that they were given away for free.
After some of his posters were used at a demonstration in Red Square and some people displaying them were arrested, it became clear that the police “would inevitably come to us,” Besov said.
They showed up when Besov wasn’t there, charging two of his employees with participating in an unauthorized rally by printing the poster used in it.
The case has dragged on for over three months, he said, causing all of them lots of stress over whether they will be penalized and to what extent.
Besov has stopped printing the “No to war” posters and went for subtler messages such as “Fear is not an excuse to do nothing.”
He considers it important to keep speaking out.
“The problem is we don’t know where the lines are drawn,” Besov said. “It is known that they can prosecute you for certain things, but some manage to fly under the radar. Where is this line? It is very bad and really difficult.”’
