any honest discussion about russia s past or present can bring trouble and trouble they have. the local businessman who s been funding the project has fled abroad, wanted by police. now the library has been told to vacate the building. but most people in ivanovo pass the library by, for a variety of reasons. in the city centre, a big band, but no talk of big brother. some here embrace the direction in which russia is moving. we are growing more independent, vladimir says, less reliant on the west. we are making progress, says natalia. as putin says, it s a new stage for russia. and russia s war in ukraine? i don t watch anything about that now, nina says, it s too upsetting.