Valery Charlotte, the father of Russian singer Eduard Charlotte, said he did not expect his son to be detained at Pulkovo airport after arriving from Yerevan. He stressed that his son does not currently have a lawyer and that he would be ready to provide any support needed.
The father added that there had been no recent contact with his son for a long period, and he could not offer new information. He noted that he anticipated some development because the events had been widely covered the day before, but he admitted uncertainty about what actually occurred. He said he had just learned about the latest developments and could not comment further. He admitted,
“I still don’t fully understand what happened.”
He also stressed that if possible, he would offer his son all the necessary help.
“If he remains detained there now, contact will be possible only through a lawyer. But I doubt he has one. If there is an opportunity for me to help, I will, but first there needs to be clarity about what should happen next”, the singer’s father explained.
Late on the night of November 22, the singer left Yerevan, where he had been staying, and flew to St. Petersburg, landing at Pulkovo Airport. Shortly after the plane touched down, he was detained and taken to a police station in handcuffs. Footage of the singer in custody circulated on social media channels.
Eduard Charlotte faces up to five years in prison in Russia. At the end of June, he released a video showing him burning his Russian passport and declaring that he no longer considered himself a Russian citizen.
Previously, Charlotte had criticized the Russian government in a video, performing a song about the president and tearing down a portrait. Activists from the public organization the People’s Call and the head of the Safe Internet League, Ekaterina Mizulina, called on the Investigative Committee of Russia and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to review the singer for possible violations of the country’s laws.
Reports also indicated that the singer was deemed unfit for military service in Russia due to a third-degree flat foot condition. According to media coverage, Charlotte underwent a military medical examination before leaving for Yerevan. After the doctors concluded his status, the artist left Russia, burned his passport on camera, but planned to return once his ineligibility was confirmed.
Prior to these events, Charlotte had suggested that a shaman participate in a vocal competition, underscoring a broader creative direction for the performer.
Notes accompanying these developments reflect a climate of heightened scrutiny around public figures who express dissent or controversial views while abroad. Observers emphasize the potential impact on an artist’s career, the legal framework governing nationality and residence, and the role of social media in shaping public perception during diplomatic frictions. As this situation unfolds, analysts urge careful verification of facts and ongoing monitoring of official statements to understand the next steps in the legal process and any possible implications for Eduard Charlotte’s future artistic projects.
Sources for these updates come from contemporary news reports and the public discussion surrounding the events. The information presented here is intended to provide a clear summary based on available reports while recognizing that details may evolve as investigations proceed.