Communists see red over suitcase

Matthias Rust shocked the Soviet Union when the young German landed a small plane on Red Square in 1987. This week, a giant symbol of mammon appeared in Russia’s most venerated public place and traditionalists were not amused.

President Vladimir Putin’s government found itself struggling on Wednesday to contain an uproar over a gigantic Louis Vuitton suitcase set up to house an exhibit on the travel and possessions of the rich and famous.

Communists denounced the suitcase-shaped pavilion – placed mere steps from the Kremlin and the mausoleum of Bolshevik revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin – as an evocative symbol of the conspicuous consumption that has enveloped Russia since the 1991 break-up of the Soviet Union.

The protests appeared to work. By late on Wednesday evening, a sign on a fence surrounding the structure said it was being dismantled – though the structure remained intact.

“There’s nothing terrible about the trunk itself and the good intentions – on the contrary,” Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. “But it is obvious that there’s a problem with the sense of scale.”

– Nampa-Reuters

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.

The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.