Aleksandra Polivanova, who has translated four books about the popular Swedish children's book characters into Russian, is also a human rights activist. She has now been classified as a "foreign agent" by the Russian regime, which will have consequences for the Swedish books.
The translations were made 20 years ago, but it doesn't matter. The Russian publisher Albus Corvus is now forced to withdraw the publication of four Russian Pettson books.
A book translated by a person designated by the regime as a "foreign agent" can only be sold to people over 18 years old and only if it is provided with a warning text. If the books are sold without such a warning marking, the publisher may eventually be affected by closure.
The plan is to revise the books and publish them again to avoid the warning marking. A number of other books with Pettson & Findus, translated by other people, are not affected and can be published in the future as well.
The organizations or private individuals designated as "foreign agents" become subject to extra strict control from Russian authorities and can, among other things, not be considered for government assignments. The law has been criticized by the European Court of Human Rights, as it violates the European Convention and contradicts human rights.
