The Leninsky District Court of St. Petersburg issued a preventive measure against Natalya Artemova after she confronted riot police during the raid on the Zero People concert. This information was reported by the Telegram channel St. Unified press service of St. Petersburg courts.
The court granted the request for an investigation and ordered Artemova to refrain from certain actions for the entire duration of the preliminary inquiry, the statement noted.
According to the case record, Artemova admitted her guilt and expressed remorse. Earlier reports suggested the criminal case was opened under articles including violence against a police officer and insulting an officer. The accused faced allegations of sustaining at least one hit to the thigh from riot police, as well as verbally abusing law enforcement while intoxicated.
On November 9, the Telegram channel Mash on the Moika announced that the Zero People group planned to perform in St. Petersburg. It was reported that a closed concert was held at the St. Petersburg club Cosmonaut and that Russian forces arrived in response to complaints from activists. The group is a side project of Alexander Krasovitsky, who serves as vocalist and keyboardist for Animal Jazz, and Alexander Zarankin.
Eyewitnesses cited by 78.ru described uniformed officers entering the venue with faces covered, removing minors, and forcing attendees to line up for document checks. The musicians were reportedly taken to the police as well.
Earlier, a concert by Xolidayboy in Nizhny Novgorod was canceled only hours before it began, adding to a series of disruptions surrounding performances by this artist and related acts.
In this context, observers note that incidents involving crowd control, youth attendance, and the legal processing of participants during unauthorized gatherings have sparked ongoing discussion about policing methods during public performances in major Russian cities. For analysts in North America and Europe, the episode underscores persistent questions about event permissions, riot police engagement, and the protections afforded to performers and attendees during large gatherings. Citations from regional outlets and official court communications provide additional context to the evolving legal and social narrative surrounding these events.
Overall, the case reflects a broader pattern in which demonstrations linked to music performances intersect with law enforcement actions, spotlighting legal boundaries, public safety concerns, and the rights of participants. Analysts emphasize careful monitoring of forthcoming court rulings and any updates to charges or preventive measures that may influence similar events in the region. Attribution: official court statements and coverage by local media outlets including Fontanka and 78.ru; corroborating details reported by Mash on the Moika and the St. Petersburg Unified press service of courts.