On Friday, April 7, Diana Arbenina, leader of the rock band Night Snipers, posted the lyrics to the song Port on social media.
Do not be afraid – there is a star above us, don’t be afraid – never again. Don’t ask why you came here. Don’t be afraid and stay on the ground. We will get through everything together.
In early April, several group concerts were canceled in Kazan, Cheboksary, Pyatigorsk, Ulyanovsk, Krasnodar and Tolyatti. The tour’s last date was scheduled for July 8, 2023, in Moscow.
Vitaly Borodin, a public figure known for filing complaints about artists and the media to law enforcement, addressed the Prosecutor General’s Office with a request that Arbenina be checked for alleged discrediting of the Russian army. He claimed the singer repeatedly criticized decisions and policies of state bodies and the President of the Russian Federation. The special military operation carried out by the Russian Federation on Ukrainian territory was cited as part of the discussion.
Recall that a year earlier, in April 2022, Arbenina released the song Don’t Be Silent with lines that pointed to the edge of involvement in another country’s war and to questions about consent and agency. The artist later spoke about uncertainty regarding possible exile from Russia and emphasized a strong connection to the country, its people, and home, asserting personal resolve and distinct stance on the political climate.
Forbidden artists in Russia
As reported on Friday, the Moscow prosecutor’s office began a check into Valery Meladze regarding possible funding of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The action was initiated by Borodin, who previously led a public organization focused on security and anti-corruption projects.
In July of the previous year, media outlets noted the publication of a list of artists deemed “banned” in Russia. Reports suggested acts such as DDT, Time Machine, Aquarium, and several other groups were included on that list.
In August, DDT leader Yuri Shevchuk faced an administrative ruling for discrediting the RF Armed Forces. After a May 18 concert in Ufa, a protocol was issued under the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation, resulting in a fine of fifty thousand rubles. The Sovetsky Court of Ufa found the performance excessive in its approach to questions that viewers could interpret as critical of the forces involved in Ukraine’s conflict.
During an interview with socialbites.ca, Shevchuk said the progression of the cases was unclear and expressed a sentiment of focusing on creating music about goodness and peace rather than the legal proceedings.
Scheduled demonstrations in 2023 in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Chelyabinsk, Magnitogorsk and Orenburg were postponed indefinitely, with the artist noting that the St. Petersburg concert was moved to 2024 and stressing that the group bore no blame for the delays.