Illustrations by Sydney Hass

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As a writer who often touches on feminist issues, Anna was well-versed in Russia’s patriarchy. She knew what she was up against when she decided to go public. There were plenty of women before and after her who become internet pariahs overnight.

Diana Shurygina, a 16-year-old girl who was violently raped at a party, is one of the most famous cases. After a closed court convicted Shurygina’s rapist and sent him to jail—a rarity in Russia, as perpetrators of violence against women often get off scot-free—supporters of her rapist created an online petition claiming she was a liar and published pictures from her personal VK account. Her interview on the popular Russian television show “Let Them Talk” would be watched over 17 million times on YouTube alone. Overnight, Shurygina became a hero, a celebrity, and one of the most hated women on Russia’s internet.

Millions of people obsessively followed every detail of her life online, sending hate mail, death threats, and obscenity her way. Memes mocked her rape, video mashups of her interviews went viral, and even brands like Burger King poked fun at her plight to promote their products online in Russia. As she gained notoriety online, vandals slashed her dad’s car tires and strangers attacked her mom in the street, according to her family. In April, news reports said that she had been hospitalized at a psychiatric facility.

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18-year-old Irina Sycheva was another young Russian survivor of violence who faced devastating trolling. After a classmate circulated online a recording of Sycheva’s rape in a bathroom stall, Sycheva filed a police report and her rapists were later convicted and imprisoned. Irina took to television in October 2015 to talk about her ordeal. But instead of expressing outrage that a young woman was raped, many Russians online displayed sympathy for her rapist, claiming she had brought on her own rape. In July 2016, Sycheva threw herself in front of a subway train, but a passerby saved her.

This epidemic is likely to worsen after Russian President Vladimir Putin passed a controversial bill in February that effectively decriminalizes some forms of domestic violence. (The Russian Orthodox Church, a major player in Russia, publicly advocated for the bill, arguing that family life should be kept private.) In Russia, abuse is now no longer illegal for first-time offenders if their victims do not seek outside help or haven’t faced enough harm to be hospitalized. Prior to the bill, abusers could face up to two years in jail. Now, they can pay a fine, and at worst face 15 days in jail.

Anna called the police repeatedly; no one answered. When she called a hotline for victims of domestic violence, the answering machine told her to call back after the holidays, on January 12.

Even before the new law, women complained that law enforcement was of little help. When Anna reported her attack to police on December 29, 2014, they asked her if she was married and why she didn’t yet have children. She filed her paperwork and police promised to “follow up.” After the appointment, Anna went to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a moderate brain injury and multiple hematomas.

For weeks after she filed the report, there was no news from the police. She called them repeatedly; no one answered. When she called a hotline for victims of domestic violence, the answering machine told her to call back after the holidays, on January 12. Police dropped the case against Mikhail. It was only after lawyers read her account online, Anna says, that he was convicted and forced to pay a fine.