Zombies have been a part of pop culture for decades, and their relentless quest for human blood sends shivers down the spines of horror fans around the world.
But in the world of fiction, it seems that the undead spare no one, not even someone as powerful as Vladimir Putin.
A seemingly innocent book about an infected pink mouse trapped in a zombie apocalypse scared the Kremlin, resulting in its ban across the Russian Federation.
Why? It turns out that the pink rodent escaped from a Russian institute that is developing a serum to make President Putin immortal.
The book has since been accused of spreading false messages about acts of terrorism and Russia’s prosecutor general has demanded that it be withdrawn from sale because it threatens public order.
Mouse, written by Ivan Filippov, is about an infected mouse that escapes from a Russian institute that is developing a serum to make President Putin immortal, leading to a zombie apocalypse.
A screenshot of the lawsuit condemns the novel for posing a “threat of harm to the life and health of citizens and property” and could disrupt the operation of critical infrastructure, including banks and transportation systems.
Publisher Georgy Urushadze confirmed that authorities are trying to ban the book in Russia, according to The times.
In a sarcastic post on Facebook, Urushadze expressed mixed emotions: “I’m sorry, comrades, but as a person focused on literature, I am very happy. In no other country does literature have such power. Banks are in danger!”
Filippov, a Russian journalist based in Georgia, said the book had temporarily disappeared from Ozon, one of Russia’s largest online stores, after complaints from nationalist “Z” bloggers.
Filippov, who runs a Telegram channel opposing Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, was one of several journalists who were designated as foreign agents in April.
He insists the book complies with Russian laws, features a foreign agent disclaimer on its cover, does not violate extremism laws and has an 18+ rating on Ozon.
Despite meeting legal standards, “Mouse” has faced criticism from Putin supporters, particularly for its depiction of real figures such as propaganda chief Margarita Simonyan and Patriarch Kirill suffering untimely deaths.
According to Filippov, the book had enjoyed significant success until the recent crackdown.
Vladimir Putin has banned the controversial novel because it promotes extremism and “threatens public order” (file image)
Boris Akunin, a renowned Russian novelist based in London, criticised the authorities’ decision, saying they had “completely lost their minds” by banning a book they irrationally consider a threat.
Online book retailers including BABook and Ekho Books have been asked by Roskomnadzor, the communications watchdog, to stop selling “Mouse.”
In an act of defiance, BABook announced: “We will gladly not comply with this demand. Let them block us. That will be interesting.”
Alternatively, Ekho Books has responded to the lawsuit by providing a link for customers to purchase the book rather than selling it directly.
Meanwhile, Russian intelligence services have once again set their sights on the US election in a bid to install former President Donald Trump in the White House, a new report claims.
Several U.S. officials in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in Washington confirmed the existence of the Russian plan when speaking to The Wall Street Journal.