There are several dozen political prisoners in Russia. When I cite that number people are often very surprised. They often think there… — Masha Gessen Amnesty international Copy Share Image
“[following the Kursk disaster].. "Putin appeared on CNN's Larry King Live. When King asked "What happened?", Putin shrugged, smiled - impishly, it… — Masha Gessen Copy Share Image
If human rights are an attribute of being human, then we must consider the fact that tens of millions of displaced people… — Masha Gessen Around the world Copy Share Image
Dictators fall when they're overconfident; they stay in power when they're paranoid. — Masha Gessen Dictators Copy Share Image
I think some people have blind faith in American institutions without knowing a whole lot about them and think they will stand… — Masha Gessen Blind Copy Share Image
I would much rather engage people in a conversation about deregulation and reversals of women's rights and civil rights and LGBT rights… — Masha Gessen Civil rights Copy Share Image
“Entire civilizations in history had ceased to exist. How had life in them felt in the last decades and days? Russia and… — Masha Gessen Energy of life Copy Share Image
Most Russians believe they've never met an LGBT person in their lives. Also they immediately see LGBT people as 'other,' lending to… — Masha Gessen Believe Copy Share Image
Putin really assumed that once Trump - who had such clear admiration for him - was elected, it would be convenient for… — Masha Gessen Admiration Copy Share Image
With Pussy Riot - this was a prank! It was a brilliant, artistically gifted prank. But they didn't expect to go to… — Masha Gessen Brilliant Copy Share Image
“A state born of protest against inequality had created one of the most intricate and rigid systems of privilege that the world… — Masha Gessen Copy Share Image
There is no law that guarantees press access to the White House. Communication was lessening during the Obama years. There was every… — Masha Gessen Communication Copy Share Image
Every time I talk to somebody about Putin, it's like, 'But isn't he vastly popular?' Is that really the most important question?… — Masha Gessen I think Copy Share Image
The American justice system administers punishment. It does not conduct inquests and it does not find facts. — Masha Gessen American Copy Share Image
If you grew up in Boston, you actually grew up thinking that Patriots' Day is a major American holiday, sort of like… — Masha Gessen American Copy Share Image
I do a very good impersonation of an American - I went to high school here - but I've spent most of… — Masha Gessen American Copy Share Image
You can't expect people who didn't exist as a community at all until about twenty years ago to have formed a political… — Masha Gessen Activist Copy Share Image
Autocratic power requires the degradation of moral authority - not the capture of moral high ground. — Masha Gessen Authority Copy Share Image
Take the people facing charges in connection with the protests that occurred on the eve of Vladimir Putin's third-term inauguration, May 6,… — Masha Gessen Activist Copy Share Image
The rest of Russia is watching the same television that Vladimir Putin is watching. As far as they're concerned, Pussy Riot was… — Masha Gessen Blasphemy Copy Share Image
Nobody knows what self-radicalized means, and that's one of the weird things about the way that we talk about terrorism. We talk… — Masha Gessen Case Copy Share Image
Of course, Putin may well have reasons for wanting Trump to be president - not least Trump's apparent skepticism toward NATO and… — Masha Gessen NATO Copy Share Image
“In all societies, public rhetoric involves some measure of lying, and history -- political history and art history -- is made when… — Masha Gessen Art Copy Share Image
We learn to think of history as something that has already happened, to other people. Our own moment, filled as it is… — Masha Gessen Comparison Copy Share Image
I was a political journalist for a long time. I wrote a book about Putin. I made all kinds of trouble. — Masha Gessen Book Copy Share Image
