An entire era is passing away. People who went through the dissident movement of the late USSR, despite repression and pressure, still found the strength and hope to resist the system. But today’s Russia has become even darker — more cruel, more inhuman, and far more massive in terms of war violence and political persecution.

Another sensitive and dignified soul could not endure it. Nina Litvinova voluntarily left this life — a person who devoted herself to defending others and fighting injustice.

Her sister, Masha Slonim, announced her death. According to her, Russian state media, citing law enforcement sources, immediately began spreading reports of suicide, yet refused to publish the farewell note itself — because it spoke too directly about the real causes of the tragedy.

In her note, Nina Litvinova wrote that she could no longer live while watching war, the killing of innocent people, and endless political repression. She spoke about thousands of people suffering and dying in prisons simply because they oppose war and violence. She specifically mentioned political prisoners — Yevgenia Berkovich, Svetlana Petriychuk, Karina Tsurkan — and admitted that her strength was gone and that the feeling of helplessness had become unbearable.

This is a terrifying symbol of our time: even people who survived the Soviet system can no longer endure what modern Russia has become.

Let us not judge her harshly. To love humanity is an extremely heavy burden — especially now, in a country called Russia.