The Russian rapper known as Oksimiron, who is labeled a foreign agent in Russia, released a new track titled “The World Is Burning.” In this release, he speaks publicly about the criminal case against him in Russia for the first time, framing the situation as a kind of distant, ongoing legal struggle that forces him to operate from afar.
In the lyric, the artist characterizes the case as a form of remote work, describing a life on the run that requires movement across different countries. He mentions increased surveillance in Tbilisi and hints at pressure to cooperate with authorities, including a suggestion that he might need to change his stance or align with certain expectations to ease his situation.
Oksimiron comments on how his public expressions have shifted over time, noting that he no longer uses incendiary imagery in his music. He reflects on the broader pressures he faces, noting that the repercussions extend beyond prison time and that the consequences can affect his life and career in ways that are hard to measure in the moment.
For the track’s cover, the rapper included an image showing a card reportedly drawn from the database of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. He also teases an upcoming album titled “Nationality: none,” a project that appears to play with the idea of identity and state control as reflected in his public search history and media strategy.
In October 2022, Oksimiron was added to the list of individuals designated as foreign agents, a move that has significantly shaped how his work is perceived and regulated within Russia. This designation has been a recurring backdrop to his creative output and legal challenges, influencing both release schedules and public reception.
In August 2023, a legal decision from the Kuibyshevsky District Court of St. Petersburg ordered a fine of 40,000 rubles due to the absence of foreign agent markings on certain posts. The court determined that a December 31, 2022 post on VKontakte violated regulations by lacking the required designation, leading to the chosen monetary penalty as a consequence of noncompliance.
During June, reports emerged that a court in St. Petersburg had prohibited the artist’s song “Oida.” Earlier, in October 2022, the Moscow Zamoskvoretsky Court ruled that Oksimiron’s track “Last Call” was extremist, a decision that has complicated how his music is distributed and consumed in major markets. These legal actions have become a recurring theme in the narrative surrounding the artist’s career and public life.
Previously noted was the broader context of other musicians who have faced foreign-agent designations in Russia, including Makarevich, underscoring a pattern in which the state
responds to perceived political dissent with legal and regulatory tools that affect artistic expression. The ongoing cases and rulings continue to shape the landscape in which Oksimiron operates, influencing both creative choices and public dialogue about artistry, state power, and freedom of expression.