Book fairs around the world resolve to suspend contact with any Russian state institutions and agencies.
Catching up with PW's Andrew Albanese
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Directors of book fairs in Europe, Central America and Asia have issued an open letter condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to Andrew Albanese, Publishers Weekly senior writer.
“We categorically deplore the Russian regime’s use of force,” the group declared. “We cannot remain either silent or indifferent to Russia’s transformation of Ukraine into a killing field.”
The trade show organizers described book fairs as settings for “publishers, writers, agents, translators, and illustrators to interact and engage openly and where free expression and critical voices are cherished. We, therefore, resolve to suspend contact with any Russian state institutions and agencies and invite publishers and authors from Ukraine to exhibit in our fairs at no cost.”
Albanese tells CCC’s Chris Kenneally that this is the latest example of the publishing world’s solidarity in opposing Russia’s aggression.
“It is a crucial step, too, given that information has become battlefield in the conflict,” he says.
The letter was signed by the directors of the international book fairs in Bologna, Brussels, Frankfurt, Warsaw, Prague, Guadalajara, Jerusalem, Gothenburg, Sao Paulo, Bogota, Taipei, Seoul, Leipzig, and Budapest.
Every Friday, CCC’s “Velocity of Content” speaks with the editors and reporters of “Publishers Weekly” for an early look at the news that publishers, editors, authors, agents and librarians will be talking about when they return to work on Monday.
