Where does Russia begin?

Where does Russia begin?
From the Kuril islands?
From Kamchatka?
Or from the Commander?
What do her steppe eyes sadden for?
Over the reeds of all her lakes?
Russia begins 

From the tongs
From the toilet bowl
From the telephone
From the bottle
From the plastic bag
From the clyster
From the cigarette
From the gas mask
From the iron
From the boiler 

That’s her glory.
She is cruel.
She keeps silent, tortures,
murders in the dark. 

Where does Russia begin is a publication based on a personal poem, which is also called «Where does Russia begin?». The poem refers to the typical cultural expression in Russian patriotic art, where the size of the country is being celebrated. Instead of the typical celebration, «Where does Russia begin?» explores the long-rooted issue of torture and violence of the Russian state, especially relevant in the context of its contemporary war crimes in Ukraine. The work also lists 9 casual objects that are often used to torture people in Russian prisons, explaining how and where they are usually used and for each object a proven case from the past is provided.