Russian writer Akunin promised not to ask anything more about Odesa

Boris Akunin, a Russian mystery writer, thanked those who answered his questions about Odesa in the comments and promised not to ask about the city again.

He acknowledged that the question was inappropriate in terms of publicity, but explained it by treating his followers on his page as readers of his books.

"I always talk to my readers in real meetings or on social media differently than I do to the general public, based on the fact that readers, unlike the general public, are interested in my work. Judging by the comments to the post, and there are two thousand of them, a lot of Facebook subscribers don't care about my work. I don't know why they subscribe to me, but for some reason they do. And I'm very upset that I offended these people with my question, which is really inappropriate at this time," the writer wrote.

He also emphasized that he disagreed with those commentators who advised him to first express support and then ask, saying that then the outrage would be less.

"It seems to me a terrible vulgarity to mix these two genres: the sublime and the practical. 'Soul-with-you-is-glorious-Ukraine-by-the-way-help-the-writer-in-his-work'. Readers of my page should already know about my position in this war, which has been stated a hundred times and cost me a ban in Russia, a "terrorist list" and three criminal cases. But no, Ukrainian readers do not owe me anything. Those who attacked me - I repeat once again - are right," the writer concluded.

A week ago, Russian writer Boris Akunin caused a wave of outrage in Odesa by asking for photos from Primorsky Boulevard during the full-scale war with Russia.

Boris Akunin (real name: Grigory Chkhartishvili), who has been publicly condemning the war since 2022, asked his subscribers to send him a photo or clarification of the terrain in Odesa, in particular, the slope of the slope from Primorsky Boulevard towards the Odesa seaport. The writer explained that he was writing a story set in Odesa, where he had never been. Odesa residents warned that such "literary inquiries" could look like an intelligence gathering.

Кирило Бойко