Putin’s Nightmare: ‘1984’ Is Now A Bestselling Book In Russia

A boy reads a book next to copies of British writer George Orwell's 1984 at Hong Kong's annual book fair on July 15, 2015. The 26th edition of the fair showcased a record number of over 580 exhibitors from 33 countries and regions. George Orwell's 1984 has topped the bestseller list in Russia, during a year plagued by President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine. AARON TAM/BENZINGA

A banner with the portrait of Alexander Lukashenko with George Orwell’s ‘1984’ title is seen during a demonstration of solidarity with Belarusian political prisoners and against Alexander Lukashenko’s dictatorship during a picket at the Main Square in Krakow, Poland on January 16, 2022. The dystopian novel, published in 1949, is a cautionary tale centered around the idea of how truths and facts can be distorted under totalitarianism, mass surveillance and government repression. NURPHOTO/BENZINGA

George Orwell’s “1984” has topped the bestseller list in Russia, during a year plagued by President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.