The Shortparis group faced an indefinite postponement of its performance in St. Petersburg, a decision communicated through the band’s official group and confirmed by representatives on the monitoring channel. The message stated that a new date would be announced in due course and invited fans to stay tuned for updates. It was also noted that any questions should be directed through official channels, with a suggestion to contact through formal, approved means rather than informal chat groups.
Inquiries from Fontanka and other outlets led them to seek a response from the City Culture Committee. The ministry later explained to reporters that the organizers chose to delay the concert after realizing the deadline for staging the event had passed, adding that logistical concerns played a role in the decision. Audience expectations were high, and the authorities emphasized that the postponement was a scheduling matter tied to regulatory timing rather than a change of artistic plan.
On November 11, 2023, the band came under formal scrutiny when requests were filed to designate Shortparis as a foreign agent and to investigate alleged discrediting of the Russian Armed Forces. Activists from the group People’s Call put forward their petitions to several federal bodies, including the Federal Security Service, the Investigative Committee, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Justice. The core claim centered on remarks attributed to Shortparis’ frontman, Nikolai Komyagin, which were interpreted as critical of Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
Following the onset of the conflict, Komyagin reportedly relocated to St. Petersburg on February 26, 2022, and later participated in an unsanctioned rally in the city. Records indicate he faced a fine for taking part in the protest, a consequence that fed into broader discussions about civic expression and political tolerance within the cultural sector. The episode contributed to a broader discourse about the place of contemporary art and dissent in the public sphere.
Earlier, an unrelated legal matter had involved a figure connected to the group named Charlotte, who faced charges related to the rehabilitation of Nazism and the offense of insulting the religious sentiments of believers. The case added another layer of controversy surrounding the band and its public reception, underscoring the tense environment in which culture and politics intersect in the region.