The Shortparis group faced scrutiny as foreign agents and were examined for any discrediting of the RF Armed Forces, as reported by Life and related outlets. The coverage tied the band to a broader inquiry that sought to determine whether public statements harmed state institutions.
In another angle of the story, activists from the organization People’s Call submitted petitions to key federal bodies in Russia, including the Federal Security Service, the Investigative Committee, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Ministry of Justice. The appeals aimed to highlight perceived political risks associated with the band and its activities.
Central to the discourse was Nikolai Komyagin, the frontman of Shortparis, who allegedly voiced criticism of Russia’s special operation in Ukraine. Members of the movement claimed his remarks formed part of a pattern of dissent that authorities were evaluating during the period that followed the operation’s onset.
Following the start of the military action, Komyagin was relocated to St. Petersburg on February 26, 2022. Reports indicate he participated in an unauthorized protest gathering in the city and subsequently faced a fine for his involvement, illustrating how activist action intersected with legal restrictions at the time.
Shortparis had a history in St. Petersburg, with performances in the city dating back to 2012 and the group being established there. Komyagin is also recognized for his acting work, notably for portraying the Soviet poet Vladimir Mayakovsky in the film Karamora directed by Danila Kozlovsky, a role that added a literary dimension to his public profile.
The People’s Call organization continued its campaign in June by naming members of Animal Jazz as foreign agents. Activists cited a 2021 interview with vocalist Alexander Krasovitsky, conducted by Yuri Dudu, during which Krasovitsky expressed a sense of shame about the relations between Russia and Ukraine, explaining the emotional and political complexity surrounding cultural collaborations in the region.
In another public note, the musician Philip Kirkorov made a comment about weight, reflecting a tangential media moment that added to the broader media coverage surrounding figures connected to the scene at that time.