Boris Akunin is one of Russia’s most popular authors. Erast Fandorin, his series of historical detective novels, has been adapted into feature films and TV miniseries. But he is also an enemy of the state, having been branded a “foreign agent” by the Russian authorities last year.

Akunin, whose real name is Grigory Chkhartishvili, has been outspoken against President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The ‘foreign agent’ label is the least of my problems; there are already more than a thousand ‘foreign agents’,” Akunin told Al Jazeera from London.

“Compared to the fact that a military court sentenced me to 14 years in prison for ‘justifying terrorism’ – that is, Ukraine’s right to defend itself – as well as putting me on the international wanted list, this is nothing.”

Bookstor

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