Enemies of the State, "Pathological Russophobe"

[AkMike]

Long-time Moscow correspondent Helen Womack bids a reluctant farewell to Russia, after 30 years.


Moscow: The string ensemble with which I've taken part in charity concerts in Moscow was having a rehearsal. "Hey, have you seen this?" said the cellist, flicking through his smartphone. "You're an enemy of Russia now."

We pored over the little screen and there, sure enough, was my face, plastered with the label "Pathological Russophobe". I'd been added to a list of "undesirables" on a website whose extreme nationalist authors recommended my expulsion from Russia.
 

I have preferred the bitter truth to the sweet lie, but I have never stopped loving Russia.

I was a bit upset, but took it as a joke. I was in good company, along with other journalists who'd covered the Pussy Riot trial or the posthumous prosecution of whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky after his death in custody. As long as the Russian Foreign Ministry wasn't throwing me out, the vitriol of a few extremists mattered little, I thought.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/longtime-moscow-correspondent-helen-womack-bids-a-reluctant-farewell-to-russia-after-30-years-20150619-ghoe2r

[ML]

Very interesting article.  What about her Russian husband?  Will they be together in Australia or some other country?

And what will happen to our man Mendy?