An open letter appeared in British newspaper, the Guardian, on Thursday in which 200 prominent authors from around the world united to decry the situation in Russia as well as the repeated attacks on free speech in the country.

The newspaper has also recently changed its logo to the rainbow colours in solidarity with the LGBT community. While the list of authors maybe longer than the letter itself, it offers a powerful warning to Putin’s Russia and criticises the ‘chokehold’ that has been placed on the ‘right to express oneself freely in Russia’.

The letter has been signed by literary stars such as Salman Rushdie and Margaret Atwood.