Astolphe de Custine

Astolphe de Custine was a 19th-century French aristocrat and writer, best known for his travelogue 'Letters from Russia', which provides a critical account of Russian society and politics during his visit in 1839. His observations on the oppressive nature of the Russian state and the pervasive fear among its citizens have been cited as eerily relevant in contemporary discussions about Russia, particularly in the context of Vladimir Putin's regime.