Four members of the rock band Bi-2, who hold Israeli citizenship, were scheduled to fly from Thailand to Israel on January 30. The information came from a local outlet reporting on Channel 12, and it notes that the other three members might face deportation to Russia. The situation has been unfolding with varying reports from different sources, and the full details remain unsettled as of now. (Source: Walla!, Channel 12)
The broader narrative suggests that the musicians’ path toward resolution gained momentum after involvement from the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Embassy in Thailand. At this stage, there is no confirmation on the group’s social media about any planned departure dates. (Source: Walla!, Channel 12)
Earlier, Bi-2 members were detained on the Thai island of Phuket for performing a concert without an appropriate work permit. Each musician was fined roughly $95 and placed in isolation while authorities examined the infringement. A Russian political figure, Dmitry Gudkov, who is listed as a foreign agent within Russia, claimed that Vladimir Sosnov, the Russian Consul in Thailand, had instructions from Moscow to deport the musicians to Russia. (Source: Walla!, Channel 12)
In 2022, Bi-2 reportedly declined a performance at a series of Z concerts in Russia, which led to the group’s departure from the country at that time. (Source: Walla!, Channel 12)
The core members known publicly are Yegor Bortnik and Alexander Uman, who are often recognized by the Russian authorities as foreign agents. They also hold Israeli and Australian citizenship, reflecting a transnational footprint in their personal and professional lives. (Source: Walla!, Channel 12)
Prior to these events, the Investigative Committee and the Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office were asked to initiate legal action against Bi-2 members. Additionally, a party known as the Party of Veterans of Russia dispatched letters to the Investigative Committee and the Prosecutor General’s Office urging criminal proceedings against the band, citing their support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a motivating factor. (Source: Walla!, Channel 12)
There was a separate note about Lolita’s involvement with show business at an earlier time, though details remain unclear and are not central to the current developments surrounding Bi-2. (Source: Walla!, Channel 12)