The full-scale offensive of the Russian authorities against the book industry, which began in 2022, continues and is not going to stop. But have the censors managed to achieve any tangible results in three years? Have Russian readers really abandoned books by “foreign agents” and “extremist” writers and switched to books by Zakhar Prilepin and Z-memoirists?
To that question respond The authors of the collection Rhinos in the Bookstore, which was published by Freedom Letters (some of the texts have been previously published in different media, including the New Europe Newspaper.” - Editor's note.). Giorgi Urushadze, the head of the publishing house, immediately stipulates in his opening speech that he considers the Z-literature project to be a continuing failure, and that the censorship roll only creates a “Streisand effect”. “The only bestseller born in three years in their [pro-government] camp, one of Prilepin's books, had a circulation of 70,000. What a trifle compared to the four hundred thousand copies of the quirky novel Summer in a Pioneer Tie sold in Russia before the ban. Our publishing house does not have an advertising department, and its duties are perfectly handled by the three horsemen of the Apocalypse: the Ministry of Justice, the Prosecutor General, and Roskomnadzor”Urushadze says, emphasizing the huge sales of Ivan Filippov's novels The Shadow and The Mouse, books by Dmitry Bykov, Sergei Davydov, and others. Therefore, the task of the collection is not so much to state the defeat of the pro-government cultural camp, but to understand why this happened and how the “scribes” inside and outside the country are resisting censorship. The collected texts follow these two tracks.
What Are the Objectives of the Award?
The primary goal of the Award is to support authors and promote Russian-language literature worldwide. We welcome all who write and read in Russian, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. We aim to foster a Russian-language culture free from political and imperial influences.
How Is the Award Process Conducted?
The Prize is awarded annually. The Jury holds a vote in which each member selects between one and three works. The author whose work receives the highest number of votes becomes the winner.
What Awards Are Provided?
The Prize winner receives a grant for the translation of their work into English, French, and German.
When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?
Submissions for the third season of the prize will open on July 15, 2026, and close on October 15, 2026.
When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?
On January 20, 2027, the Council of Experts will announce the shortlist. The Independent Jury will announce the winner on May 25, 2027.
What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award
Works published in 2025 are eligible for the third season of the competition. Eligible works (novels, novellas, short story and essay collections, documentary prose) may have been published either as standalone editions or in literary magazines. Nominations may be submitted by publishing houses and magazine editorial boards, as well as by the authors themselves or third parties (with the author's consent and written confirmation). Texts must be submitted for consideration in electronic format. The DAR Prize is open to all authors. Given the prize's main goals — promoting contemporary Russian-language literature outside of Russia — and the nature of the award itself (a translation grant), priority will be given to authors whose works have not previously been translated into English, French, or German.
