“The Successor”: Mikhail Fishman in Conversation with Arkady Ostrovsky

On 10 February, Pushkin House hosts a book talk with journalist Mikhail Fishman, marking the release of his book The Successor: Boris Nemtsov, Vladimir Putin and the Decline of Modern Russia. In conversation with The Economist’s Russia editor Arkady Ostrovsky, Fishman will explore how Russia’s hopes for democracy were lost — and whether history could have taken a different turn.

Told through the life of Boris Nemtsov, the book traces Russia’s political journey from the optimism of the late 1980s to authoritarian rule, mass protests, war and repression. Nemtsov’s rise, opposition to Putin and assassination in 2015 form the emotional and political core of this sweeping narrative.

The English-language edition, published by Pushkin Press in January 2026, includes new chapters and concludes with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The event will be held both in person and online.

For more information and tickets click on ‘buy ticket’.