Meet Police Sergeant Alexey Abramov, the proud recipient of a writing prize you can buy

Russia’s National Guard is honored to have among its ranks a decorated author. On December 8, a security firm contracted by the federal agency proudly announced that Police Sergeant Alexey Abramov was recently awarded third place in the International Stanislaw Lem Fantasy Competition for his children’s book, “Dungeon in the Clouds: The Witch Delivery Service,” a crowdfunded novel about two girls who “visit the world of the Gnomes” and help solve the mystery of “disappearing homes and entire Gnome villages.” According to the National Guard’s security firm, Abramov’s book was ranked just below recent works by Canadian novelist Steven Erikson and American King of Horror Stephen King.

The prize, it turns out, is for sale.

The International Union of Writers, which organizes the competition, describes itself as “the world’s largest group of professional writers” and has a history of selling nominations for its prizes and awarding top honors to famous figures with no connection to the union. While it’s technically possible to compete for the union’s “high literary awards” without paying any fees, the organization charges money for candidacy to win its six top prizes. Spend 59,000 rubles (about $800) to become a “VIP sponsor” and you’re automatically short-listed.

It's unknown which competition “package” Police Sergeant Alexey Abramov selected.

Last year, the poet Vitaly Pukhanov and his wife Olga Slavnikova say bots attacked their Facebook accounts after they demanded to be removed from the list of honorary members listed by the International Union of Writers. Poet Daria Suhovey says her account was targeted, as well, after a bizarre exchange with the union’s director, Alexander Gritsenko.

In an apparent attempt to fool the public, the International Union of Writers also announced the winners of its International Stanislaw Lem Competition immediately following the results of a science-fiction contest organized by the Polish Foreign Ministry, which also named its awards after Stanislaw Lem.