Elena Drapeko, the First Deputy Head of the State Duma Committee on Culture, has urged that the singer Valery Meladze be declared a foreign agent and barred from entering Russia, a stance reported by ura.ru. The appeal comes amid ongoing tensions surrounding Meladze and his public statements abroad.
There were indications that Meladze had recently offered public congratulations with the phrase “Glory to Ukraine!” at a corporate event in Dubai, a moment interpreted by some as a political gesture. At the same time, he reportedly addressed the crowd with the phrase “Glory to Heroes!” during the same occasion, prompting criticism from certain government figures and commentators. These remarks have fed into broader discussions about national loyalty and the rights of artists to express themselves while traveling outside the country.
Drapeko did not mince words, telling media that Meladze should withdraw from public life abroad and return to Russia. In response, Russian Senator Elena Afanasyeva expressed the view that Meladze should be stripped of his Russian citizenship, a proposal that mirrors other high-profile debates about nationality, allegiance, and cultural influence in contemporary Russia.
Valery Meladze is recognized as a prominent figure in Russian music, with a career spanning decades as a singer and producer. He has been honored as an Artist of the Russian Federation and, by parliamentary recognition, as a People’s Artist of the Chechen Republic. His accolades include multiple wins at national music awards and festival circuits, underscoring a long-standing presence in the Russian entertainment landscape. The discourse around his status and actions reflects the ongoing conversations in Russia about loyalty, artistic freedom, and the responsibilities of public figures on the international stage. This account synthesizes reports from ura.ru and other contemporaneous coverage, presenting a snapshot of the evolving discussion surrounding Meladze and the related political reactions. [Source: ura.ru]