A 25-year-old singer, Eduard Charlotte, apologized in a courtroom hearing to President Vladimir Putin and to Russians in general, according to RIA News. In a video link from the Samara Regional Court, Charlotte addressed Vladimir Putin as a man with a capital letter and asked forgiveness for a video display he now says was foolish and mistaken. He explained that tearing a drawing featuring the president and singing along to an Igor Talkov song occurred without understanding why, and without anger toward the president or a political dispute he intended to express.
Charlotte also asked forgiveness from Patriarch Kirill, veterans of the Great Patriotic War, and Ekaterina Mizulina, the head of the Safe Internet League, along with others who appeared in his videos and posts. He stated that at a time when pro‑American propaganda seemed strongest, he made the impulsive decision to burn a citizen’s internal passport. He apologized to all Russian citizens for this act of carelessness.
At present, the musician remains in custody. He has requested a change in his preventive measure to house arrest or bail. His attorney said that Charlotte fully admitted guilt and expressed remorse. The lawyer noted that the musician could still create works from home that might help atone for the offense and resonate with the public and state authorities. Despite the defense, the court kept the pre‑trial detention in place at least until January 24.
In early December 2023, an interview with socialbites.ca featured the musician’s father, who described the arrest as a markedly harsh punishment for his son. He questioned the proportionality of the actions, arguing that Charlotte was not a repeat offender deserving SIZO confinement. The prosecutor claimed the possibility of flight abroad, yet Charlotte had destroyed one passport and another was taken by the Investigative Committee, making travel unlikely. The father believed the measures were disproportionate and suggested a softer, more justified approach while still imposing punishment.
Criminal cases against Charlotte
Currently, four criminal cases have been opened against the singer. He faces charges related to rehabilitating Nazism, insulting the feelings of believers, and damaging documents. The controversy stemmed from Charlotte’s social media posts described as provocative in official summaries.
Specific acts cited include tearing a St. George ribbon shaped like the letter Z and stomping on it, singing about the exchange rate in his underwear to a tune titled Victory Day, and attaching a photo of Patriarch Kirill to a tree. He is also accused of burning his military ID, the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, and his passport, and of expressing willingness to go to Ukraine to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The president of the Safe Internet League, Ekaterina Mizulina, faced allegations connected to LGBT propaganda, a movement labeled extremist in Russia. The Investigative Directorate of the Samara Regional Investigative Committee has opened three cases against Charlotte: two under Part 4 of Article 354.1 for Rehabilitating Nazism and one under Article 148 for Insulting the Feelings of Believers. In total, Charlotte could face up to six years in prison across these three cases, with the possibility of stretches or extensions pending a fourth case.
Who is Charlotte?
Eduard Charlotte was born on February 7, 1998, in Samara. He has a twin brother and was raised by his father. From an early age, Charlotte showed an interest in music, formed a group called The Way of Pioneers, and began sharing covers on social networks. By 2017 he signed with a record label and released several albums. In 2019 he appeared on the TV show Songs on TNT and released a track titled Cheek to Cheek, which he performed on Evening Urgant. His music later featured in the soundtrack for the TV series Difficult Teens, and he acted in the series 1703.
On January 12, 2023, the singer announced his own death in error, claiming a burial would occur on February 7, but he released new material that day. By the summer he had relocated to Armenia, opposing the Russian government, but financial strains in a foreign country prompted him to launch a fundraiser on social networks. In November, he returned to Russia, asking supporters for money to buy a ticket again.
Charlotte, a native of St., was detained and held for 13 days at the airport in St. Petersburg. Criminal cases followed, and he was moved to Samara for proceedings with all hearings taking place there.