SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2026 MINNA CANTH AWARD LONGLISTED FOR THE 2025 MOORE PRIZE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
WRITING Blending the call to action of We Should All Be Feminists with the journalistic rigor
of Masha Gessen “an exquisite feminist critique of Russia’s oppressive tactics" ( Kirkus
Reviews ) revealing how modern Russia’s history of weaponizing sexual violence plays a crucial
role in its current geopolitical strategy “It’s one of those books that can truly change a
reader's life. . . . A powerful unforgettable read.” — Andrey Kurkov award-winning author of
Grey Bees and The Silver Bone “Thoughtful instructive and deeply harrowing.” —Luke Harding
The Guardian On March 22 2023 the Swedish Academy organized a conference on threats to
democracy and freedom of expression featuring a slate of distinguished speakers including
Arundhati Roy Timothy Snyder and Sofi Oksanen. Oksanen’s address—entitled “Putin's War on
Women”— would go on to spark such interest that the acclaimed Finnish writer felt compelled to
return to it as the basis for a larger more in-depth look at Putin’s threat to women. The
result is Same River Twice a devastating book-length essay that incisively builds on the
themes and arguments first presented in her powerful speech. During the Soviet occupation of
Estonia Oksanen's great-aunt was arrested and brutally interrogated overnight. Left
permanently traumatized by the experience she would never speak again. Using her family story
as a starting point Oksanen launches an investigation into the systematic crimes that the
Russian government has for nearly a century committed with impunity. From the Russian
military's entry into Berlin in 1945 to its modern invasion of Ukraine Russia has continually
employed violence against women when combatting its enemies. Life for women in Putin's Russia
is little better gender equality is in decline women are silenced by the legal system and
rape is used to humiliate victims especially women in media. Through Oksanen's sober analysis
a disturbing picture emerges: under Putin misogyny has become foundational to the state’s
power. It underpins the current regime serves as a means of weaving international alliances
and forms an essential part of Russia’s ongoing genocide in Ukraine in turn posing a threat to
the rights of women and minorities worldwide. As threats to democracy grow stronger across the
globe the powerful and timely Same River Twice is a warning that cannot not be ignored.
Translated from the Finnish by Owen F. Witesman
