Bravery of ‘Dolly Partonski’

I’M IN awe at the courage of the woman dubbed Russia’s equivalent of Dolly Parton, arguably the most famous star in the country.

Alla Pugacheva has fans in the upper echelons of society, including Putin himself. Or used to.

She has dared to criticise his war in Ukraine, bravely speaking out against ‘the death of our boys for illusory goals that are making our country a pariah and weighing down on the lives of our citizens’.

Given the dire consequences others have faced for criticising Putin, I hope Alla survives — and that Putin eventually sees sense.