How to read well

Rossiyskaya Gazeta published a list of extremist literature. The first such list was published in the summer, and then experts had many questions. Lists of “banned” books are provided by the Federal Registration Service of the Russian Federation. Work on its preparation is being carried out together with the Prosecutor General's Office, the FSB, the police and the courts. Literature is recognized as prohibited in accordance with the law “On Combating Extremist Activities.” This is a matter of national importance - the compilation of a list of prohibited literature was introduced by decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov instructed Rossiyskaya Gazeta to publish the list of prohibited materials. Despite the fact that, oddly enough, experts have no complaints about the list of books published today - it seems quite adequate - this idea itself still seems somewhat dubious. Firstly, we all know that it’s not the books that matter – although there is undoubtedly some harm from them. Secondly, all this literature, despite the lists, can still be found. And thirdly, the list of books in Rossiyskaya Gazeta is preceded by a victorious commentary, which says that human rights activists were afraid that political books would be banned on the basis of the law on extremism - and look, there is no politics in our list. In vain, they say, human rights activists were afraid. So, the authors of the preface would really like to remind you that we really don’t have court decisions of this kind yet, but there are as many courts and prosecutorial checks as you like. Shenderovich, Piontkovsky, Limonov, and even the completely loyal Pavel Astakhov have already been tested for extremism. And the fact that the article “about extremism” is a reason to “legally” persecute people for their political views is a fact. And the fact that these books are not yet on the lists of Rossiyskaya Gazeta is quite possibly the merit of those same human rights activists.