Between myth, anti-myth and real history December 14 is a symbolic and inconvenient date. In this conversation, we are talking not so much about the Decembrist uprising itself, but about what kind of historical memory it left and why, 200 years later, it remains the subject of heated debate. Why was the anniversary actually ignored by the state? How were myths and anti-myths about the Decembrists formed - from the Soviet canon to today's official interpretations?

Priest Andrey Mizyuk - about eternal winter, among which the New Year still comes Photo: Anatoly Zhdanov / Kommersant Another year gone by. It seems that the previous three took much longer than their allotted 365 days. They already contained a new life, and even a new heaven and earth. This is about myself and geographically. What about others?

A selection of holiday films about the meaning of life and the anticipation of the end of times Still from the film “The Leftovers” What do New Year's holidays mean to us? First of all, the expectation of rebirth and new opportunities. Every year, with this naive faith, we go on vacation, immersing ourselves in the atmosphere of the most important winter event. It is not surprising that it has become one of the enduring symbols that filmmakers turn to again and again in their films.

Residents of a seaside village turned to Putin with a request to save the school. After that the police came to them School No. 5 in the village of Taiga. Photo: Terebilov’s telegram channel The small school, which was actually the center of the small village of Taiga in the north of Primorye, has been disbanded since the New Year. And this despite persistent promises not to close the educational institution and even large-scale renovations in February.

What repressions against scribes and books will the past year be remembered for? Censorship in Pasolini's book. Photo: Alexey Dushutin / Novaya Gazeta The past year for the Russian book world has become a time of transition from targeted persecution to strict censorship and repression. In fact, there is nothing new in them: bans and arrests, arrests and bans. In form, power began to rely on a combination of punitive measures and self-censorship.

Alexander Minkin* made a discovery when he saw an empty space in Pushkin’s textbook line Illustration: Dima Bamberg 18+ THIS MATERIAL (INFORMATION) WAS PRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED AND (OR) SENT BY FOREIGN AGENT ALEXANDER VIKTOROVICH MINKIN OR CONCERNES THE ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN AGENT ALEXANDER VIKTOROVICH MINKIN *Under him is a stream of lighter azure, Above him is a golden ray of sun.

A court in St. Petersburg sent the head of the Dachnoye municipality, 60-year-old Vadim Sagalev, to a pre-trial detention center, writes Fontanka. The official and his deputy Igor Zabolotny (also arrested) are accused of murder and attempted murder in the early 2000s. According to investigators, Sagalayev ordered the crime, and Zabolotny organized it: the victims were the head of the commercial institute “VNII Hydrolysis” Evgeny Dorfman, his wife and a security guard.

The office of the President of Belarus reported that Alexander Lukashenko, on the eve of the New Year, signed a decree pardoning 22 people - 15 men and 7 women. 20 of them were convicted in the republic for extremism. All of them turned to Lukashenko with a request for pardon, admitted guilt and repented of their actions, local authorities say.

Film by Zaur Mukhtarov “Silence has no wings.” A fantasy parable about despair Still from the film “Silence Has No Wings” December 30, 1922 is the date of Azerbaijan’s entry into the USSR. Today, relying on a strong national foundation and the achievements of the Soviet past, the country has demonstrated the ability to move towards global integration.

Screenshot from the video of the Russian Ministry of Defense The Oreshnik hypersonic missile system (PGRK) has come on duty in Belarus, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced . And they published a video recording of the ceremony with the participation of military personnel, where the appearance of the weapon was demonstrated for the first time. The video features the deputy commander of one of the military units, who says that the Russian military is developing new combat patrol areas.

The monument to Stalin in Vologda will be preserved, fulfilling the wishes of the governor and despite the court decision The monument to Joseph Stalin, despite the court decision, will stand on the territory of the branch of the Vologda Museum-Reserve as a “gift to the museum.” The found option suits Governor Filimonov, who initiated the installation of the monument and himself came to unveil it. Governor Filimonov at the opening ceremony of the monument to Stalin in Vologda.

The sequel, calculated by marketers about the long-eared animal, his friend Gena and the prettier Shapoklyak, will collect a record box office this year Still from the film “Cheburashka 2” On January 1, Dmitry Dyachenko’s “Cheburashka 2” will open on screens - a continuation of the box office record holder, which collected almost 7 billion rubles in 2023. It is obvious that the sequel will be a success.

Photo from the archive The last elected mayor of Yaroslavl, 58-year-old Evgeny Urlashov, was released from prison on December 30 after serving a sentence on corruption charges, writes 76.ru. The former official was supposed to be released on January 2, 2026, but, according to the law, if the end date falls on a holiday, the prisoner is released on the last working day.

St. Petersburg action artist Pavel Krisevich said that he left Russia after communicating with FSB officers during his last administrative arrest. He himself wrote about this in his telegram channel.

Constitution of Lawlessness. Compiled by: Vladimir Pastukhov* Illustration: Petr Sarukhanov / Novaya Gazeta 18+. THIS MATERIAL (INFORMATION) WAS PRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED AND (OR) SENT BY FOREIGN AGENT PASTUKHOV VLADIMIR BORISOVICH OR CONCERNES THE ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN AGENT PASTUKHOV VLADIMIR BORISOVICH.