A Country That Does Not Exist. How the Kremlin Spends Billions on the Scenery of Putin’s Russia, Where You Cannot Walk in off the Street

A Country That Does Not Exist. How the Kremlin Spends Billions on the Scenery of Putin’s Russia, Where You Cannot Walk in off the Street

For decades, the Kremlin has been creating a parallel reality for Russians — a country without major problems and with a wonderful president. By the 2024 election, this reality was embodied in the campaign exhibition “Russia.” Afterward, the project was declared a success.

These sets, built for tens of billions of rubles, were made permanent and are now being replicated across the country: national “Russia” centers are already operating in Moscow and three regions, with ten more being prepared to open. They glorify the achievements of Vladimir Putin’s era and his war.

At the same time, it is impossible to simply walk into the centers from the street — something that has prompted constant complaints about them online. Advance registration on the website is required, with personal data provided: from full name and email to geolocation and Wi-Fi network data.

“Vyorstka” found out how many billions were spent on the “Russia” centers, who made money from these construction projects, and why it is not easy for an ordinary Russian to get inside.

Read about how an alternative reality is being built in Russia on “Vyorstka’s” website (with a VPN):

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Vyorstka

A Country That Does Not Exist. How the Kremlin Builds the Scenery of Putin’s Russia

Tens of billions of rubles from the budget for centers of parallel reality