Vladimir Sorokin is one of Russia's most controversial and influential writers and is known for his criticism of Putin's regime.
His novels have created a great deal of debate in Russia and attracted international attention.
"In the Service of Holy Russia" is a post-apocalyptic science fiction, written by Vladimir Sorokin 15 years ago.
The book is about a future Russia that is an autocracy that has liberated itself from the Western world.
Now practically everything depicted in the book has become a reality, says Vladimir Sorokin.
- As an author, I am happy with the book, but as a citizen I am not happy.
Scary similarities
The book wipes out the free media and the intelligentsia that is abroad in exile tries to broadcast radio that will reach Russia.
The plot is very similar to what is happening in the country today, where independent media were blocked by the country's censorship authority and, among other things, the independent TV channel Dozhd was forced to stop broadcasting.
- People have said that it feels like they are reading the book in the Kremlin and sort of realizing it.
- After all, I hope that it will not be like this forever and without Russia sooner or later becoming a normal, democratic country, says Vladimir Sorokin.
Watch a longer interview with Vladimir Sorokin in Kulturnyheterna special: Kriget om kulturen, on SVT Play.