Renowned Russian Poet Lev Rubinstein Passes Away Following Car Accident

Lev Rubinstein, a well-known Russian poet and critic of President Vladimir Putin, has passed away at the age of 76, six days after being hit by a car in Moscow. The news was shared by his daughter Maria on her blog, where she expressed her grief. Rubinstein was a co-founder of the conceptualist movement, which emerged in the 1970s and 1980s and aimed to challenge the traditional norms of Soviet society and criticize the official socialist realism doctrine, which used art to promote the political agenda. The Memorial human rights organization, which had to shut down recently due to the intensified government crackdown on opposition to the war in Ukraine, described Rubinstein as a poetic, astute, and ironic figure. They also highlighted his strong stance against Russia's military offensive in Ukraine and the government's treatment of LGBT rights. Despite the challenging circumstances, Rubinstein chose to stay in Moscow for the last two years, not only for himself but also to support others who were searching for self-expression and resistance. This news marks the loss of an influential voice in Russian underground literature and activism.