The 1st of July Elina Pugacheva This poem was written shortly before the plebiscite to change the Russian Constitution which was held in Russia from 25 June – 1 July 2020.
Russia’s puppeteer asks to tighten strings The BBC presenter moves on Embarrassment hits hard This is why the West thinks we're crazy
Disinfecting tunnels Bunkers
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The 1st of July It looms increasingly
Freedom was once a respected woman Now let's reverse to a submissive maid It's men who know best, after all Especially Mr. President
“You can vote from your own homes!” In times of pandemic and starvation We absolutely cannot stall Archaic reforms
Last December we walked through the Red Square The festivities, food and happiness Warmed up the freezing air
Now the Square is empty We must all adhere to our national holiday Of economic depression at home
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The Red Square... It has a grandiose air Now infected with corruption
The preparations have taken months Reforms will be passed much sooner Mr. President will guard us for a long time to come
Why must history repeat itself?
1. Since March 2020, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been highly rumoured to be living in a bunker-style residence with disinfecting tunnels near Moscow. 2. The first wave of coronavirus cases in March 2020 resulted in forced lockdowns in Russia (announced formally as “non-working weeks”), with negligible government assistance to match.
Image Credit: Adam Baker.
Красная Плошадь, Красное Палто / Red Square, Red Coat. 14 January, 2006.
Photograph [adapted]. https://flic.kr/p/9f9M9. CC BY 2.0. <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Creative Commons.
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