Cancellation of panel featuring Russian writers prompts a PEN resignation

The Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to affect the literary world.

A board member of PEN America has resigned after a panel featuring Russian writers was canceled, reports The New York Times (following The Atlantic).

Two Ukrainian writers who are also active-duty soldiers in their country's army raised concerns about the Russian writers, who were to speak during the same event but at a different panel.

Ultimately, PEN decided to cancel the panel featuring the Russian writers, which in turn prompted journalist Masha Gessen to step down as vice president of the organization.

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