PEN America Board Member Resigns Over Decision to Cancel Event With Russian Writers in Exile

PEN America canceled a panel of writers in exile, including two Russian authors, after pressure from Ukrainian writers who refused to attend an event with Russians.
PEN offered to have the event separately but at the same time and place.
Masha Gessen, the vice president of PEN's board, resigned in protest of the decision to sideline the Russian participants.
PEN has struggled balancing free speech and political pressures before.
The Ukrainian writers said there were legal and ethical issues with their participation if Russian soldiers were present.