The Zoshchenko Affair

The Zoshchenko Affair refers to the persecution of Russian satirical writer Mikhail Zoshchenko in the 1930s. Under Stalin's regime, Zoshchenko’s humorous, often subtle critiques of Soviet society were viewed as political dissent. He was subjected to government censorship, publicly criticized, and ultimately forced to dissolve his literary work, facing imprisonment and exile. The affair highlights how the Soviet government suppressed voices that didn’t align with ideological expectations, illustrating the broader climate of repression that stifled artistic and intellectual freedom during that era.