Next Year I Wish Russia — and the Whole Dictatorial World — Endless Swan Lake on TV

Dictatorship is at its peak nowadays, and it seems it will not end with this year.

I would like to wish all our readers a Happy New Year and a calm and peaceful year ahead.

In these dark times in the world, when authoritarian regimes are rising, there is one thing I keep thinking about: Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky.

The ballet Swan Lake holds a unique symbol of political change in the Soviet Union. During periods of transition of power — such as the deaths of leaders — Soviet television channels would broadcast recordings of the ballet, signaling that something significant and unannounced had happened.

So this is my wish for the world we are living in now:

I wish the dictators nonstop Swan Lake on their screens.