Masha Gessen

The state of Massachusetts doesn’t allow the death penalty, and most of the state’s residents are against it. But for the trial of accused Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the jurors who decided his fate in a federal trial had to allow for that possibility.

From success in Sochi to the plummeting rouble, Russia has had a years of extreme highs and lows. Writer Masha Gessen has been thinking and writing about those ups and downs since leaving Russia at the beginning of the year.

Author Masha Gessen left Russia seven months ago, leaving behind a burning shame over her former country’s “continuing slide into darkness.”Author Masha Gessen left Russia seven months ago, leaving behind a burning shame over her former country’s “continuing slide into darkness.”

With all the drama over Russia’s intentions in Crimea, another Russian story has been pushed to the back pages. Pussy Riot.
Now the Russian punk protest group is back in the headlines. There’s a disturbing video making the rounds, that shows an apparent attack on two Pussy Riot members.

With all the drama over Russia’s intentions in Crimea, another Russian story has been pushed to the back pages. Pussy Riot.
Now the Russian punk protest group is back in the headlines. There’s a disturbing video making the rounds, that shows an apparent attack on two Pussy Riot members.