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Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Author Philippe Sands was told it is ‘unacceptable' to read Russian writer Tolstoy amid Ukraine war
British-French author Philippe Sands has said he was told it is 'unacceptable' to read the work of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Sands is a lawyer and the author of bestselling books including The Ratline and The Last Colony. In 2016, his memoir East West Street: On the Origins of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity won the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction. The 64-year-old appeared on a panel at the 2025 Hay Festival, which has partnered with The Independent for a second year. He was joined by Swedish philanthropist Sigrid Rausing, academic Adam Rutherford, and The Independent's chief international correspondent Bel Trew. Responding to Rausing's concerns over 'how far Ukraine is going to go' in retaliating against the Russian invasion, Sands said: 'I've got no objection to that. I've got no objection to them targeting Russian bridges.' He continued: 'The issue I've found in Kyiv, and in other places in Ukraine, is I want to read a short story by Tolstoy and I'm told I can't do that because it's unacceptable.' Russian novelist Tolstoy, who died in 1910, was the author of seminal books including War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1878). The latter has been the subject of numerous film adaptations, including a critically acclaimed version starring Greta Garbo in 1935, and Joe Wright's 2012 adaptation starring Keira Knightley. 'It's an issue right now because [Ukrainians] are feeling very beleaguered,' said Sands. 'On the other hand, there are people who say, 'No, absolutely there are many good Russian writers, and many good Russian people...' so that is complex.' He added: 'But in terms of going into the Russian side, absolutely. [Ukraine have] got to defend themselves.' The discussion came in light of the news that at least seven people had been killed and dozens more injured when bridges collapsed in separate incidents across Russia. Moscow Railways initially blamed the collapse in the Bryansk region, which borders Ukraine, on 'illegal interference in the operation of transport', in a likely reference to Ukrainian saboteurs, but its Telegram post was later removed. Prominent Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov, who uses the name War Gonzo, called it 'sabotage'. Neither report could be independently verified. There was no immediate comment from Ukraine. A second bridge collapsed hours later when a freight train was crossing a bridge in the Kursk region early on Sunday (1 June), according to a local governor, causing a similar derailment. Russia's Investigative Committee said on Sunday that the two bridges had collapsed following explosions. In a third, separate incident, a prominent Ukrainian partisan group claimed responsibility for an attack on relay systems in the occupied Donetsk province, which brought a new Russian rail line to a standstill. Russia has been hit by dozens of sabotage attacks since Moscow launched its offensive against Ukraine in 2022, with many targeting its vast rail network. Kyiv said railways are targeted because they are used to transport troops and weapons for deployment in the war. You can follow updates on the Ukraine-Russia war in The Independent's live blog. Elsewhere during the panel, Sands, a visiting professor of law at Harvard Law School, said that reports of 'rampant antisemitism' at the prestigious university are 'complete nonsense'.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Professor Philippe Sands says reports of ‘rampant antisemitism' at Harvard university are ‘complete nonsense'
Philippe Sands has dismissed reports of 'rampant antisemitism ' at Harvard University, amid the conflict between the Trump administration and the Ivy League school. Donald Trump has slashed Harvard's federal funding, after accusing the institution of being too left-wing and of failing to combat antisemitism when pro-Palestinian protests have taken place on campuses. Sands, a lawyer, author and visiting professor at Harvard Law School, commented on the fallout during The Independent 's News Review event at the 2025 Hay Festival, telling the audience: 'The idea there is rampant antisemitism at Harvard is hopeless. It is just not the situation.' He added: 'As in any place in the world, there will be examples of antisemitism, no question at all, but the idea it is rampant and all over the place is complete nonsense.' Sands, along with philanthropist Sigrid Rausing and academic Adam Rutherford, were being interviewed by The Independent 's Chief International Correspondent Bel Trew. His comments came as part of a discussion on the Trump administration's attack on the US's oldest and wealthiest university. Earlier this month, it was announced that eight federal agencies would terminate a further $450m in grants to Harvard University, due to what officials have framed as inadequate responses to antisemitism on campus. Those funding cuts came after the administration axed $2.2bn in federal funding to the university, bringing the total financial penalty to around $2.65bn. 'Harvard's campus, once a symbol of academic prestige, has become a breeding ground for virtue signalling and discrimination,' read a statement from Trump administration's task force to combat antisemitism. 'This is not leadership; it is cowardice. And it's not academic freedom; it's institutional disenfranchisement.' This week, the Trump administration's antagonisation of the prestigious university escalated further, with the announcement that officials are set to start vetting the social media accounts of visa applicants who plan to attend, work at, or visit Harvard University for any signs of antisemitism. Harvard has become a punching bag for the administration, after its leadership refused the government's demands for an audit to determine the extent of its 'ideological capture by the radical left'. Trump's government is blocking Harvard from enrolling international students and is forcing currently enrolled foreign students to leave the university or risk losing their legal status in the US. The university is suing the US government over both the suspension of its federal funding and the cancellation of its permit to enrol foreign students.
