Ratushinskaya, Irina (1954– )

Russian dissident poet. She was sentenced in 1983 to seven years in a labour camp plus five years in internal exile for criticism of the Soviet regime, but was released in 1986. Her strongly Christian work includes the poetry collections Beyond the Limit (1982), Grey is the Colour of Hope (1988), and Dance with a Shadow (1992).

She was poet in residence at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, 1987–89, after which she settled in England.

She also wrote fiction, including the novels The Odessans (1996) and Fictions and Lies (1999).