Murong Xuecun

Murong Xuecun is one of China’s most celebrated dissident writers, and author of Deadly Quiet City: Stories From Wuhan, Covid Ground Zero.

Boris Akunin

Boris Akunin, AKA Grigory Chkhartshvili, is a Georgian-Russian writer. A prominent critic of Vladimir Putin, he was branded a terrorist by the Russian state, and his work has been banned from sale in Russia.

Marina Litvinenko

Marina Litvinenko is the widow of Alexander Litvinenko, a prominent opponent of Russian president Vladimir Putin, wo died in 2006 after being poisoned in London. After the death of her husband, Marina led a campaign for a full investigation into the assassination via the Litvinenko Justice Foundation. This led to a public inquiry that indicated there was a strong probability the FSB was responsible and it was probable Putin was aware of the operation. Marina continues to campaign for Russian dissidents.