Russian Museum Director Fleeing Threats to Contemporary Art
Nailya Allakhverdiyeva, director of the Permm Museum of Contemporary Art in Russia, was forced to flee the country at the end of 2024 following escalating intimidation from state authorities and conservative groups. Despite her efforts to compromise and continue showcasing contemporary art, she faced repeated police searches, interrogations, and a planted fake explosive device by the Federal Security Service. The situation culminated in a direct ultimatum from regional culture minister Alla Platonova, demanding her resignation or facing severe consequences. Citing a sense of mission toward artists and responsibility for creative freedom, Allakhverdiyeva ultimately chose exile over compromising her principles, leaving behind her family and institution in Perm to settle in Berlin.
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Russian Museum Director Fleeing Threats to Contemporary Art
Nailya Allakhverdiyeva, director of the Permm Museum of Contemporary Art in Russia, was forced to flee the country at the end of 2024 following escalating intimidation from state authorities and conservative groups. Despite her efforts to compromise and continue showcasing contemporary art, she faced repeated police searches, interrogations, and a planted fake explosive device by the Federal Security Service. The situation culminated in a direct ultimatum from regional culture minister Alla Platonova, demanding her resignation or facing severe consequences. Citing a sense of mission toward artists and responsibility for creative freedom, Allakhverdiyeva ultimately chose exile over compromising her principles, leaving behind her family and institution in Perm to settle in Berlin.
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