In Tatarstan, the Rights of the Child Ombudsman Eyes a Formal Complaint Over Mentors on The Voice
The regional Commissioner for the Rights of the Child, Irina Volynets, has announced plans to file a formal complaint with the prosecutor’s office regarding the mentors connected to the television program The Voice. The controversy centers on the three young performers identified as Bast, MakSim, and Yegor Creed. While the Ombudsman has signaled strong concerns about the mentors and the show, she stresses that she does not seek to press criminal charges at this time. In a discussion with socialbites.ca, Volynets elaborated on her earlier social media post where she described the involved artists as resembling “accomplices of Satanism” and said she would alert the appropriate authorities.
“There is no desire for bloodshed or punitive action,” Volynets explained. “Our goal is to ensure that the mentors associated with the state channel are individuals who do not provoke fear or disgust among parents. The concerns go beyond appearance. The same issues apply to Creed, the stylistic choices in Bast’s material, and the overall content presented to the audience. Parents have noted that Bast did not endorse the current political situation, and together these elements shape the perception of what constitutes an appropriate mentor. It is essential to involve the proper authorities. Channel One operates with significant state participation, which in turn places responsibility on the state as a stakeholder. The implication is that the state may have influenced the selection of content and mentors, which raises questions about alignment with national objectives. A formal appeal to the prosecutor’s office is being prepared,” Volynets stated.
The Ombudsman also mentioned that the show’s response to the concerns raised by her family underscores the seriousness of the issue. The family group argued that the mentors should be evaluated not only on their singing technique but on the broader role they play in guiding young contestants.
“Mentors should serve as more than teachers who instruct on vocal technique. They should be role models who support children through the entirety of their lives. The competition gathers participants from across the country, and for many it represents a vital path in life. Yet the project has been described as echoing patterns from Western productions, which has prompted questions about the influence on mentor selection. The possibility that foreign values could be shaping the program remains a concern for many families. The expectation is for mentors who embody values considered valuable by our communities,” the Ombudsman concluded.
Earlier statements from Irina Volynets in discussions with socialbites.ca referred to the show’s mentors as “Basta, MakSim and Yegor Creed” and suggested they may not meet the standard of singing quality required for the competition. She proposed replacing them with Victoria Cherentsova and the author of the composition “I am Russian,” Yaroslav Dronov (Shaman) as examples of potential alternatives. The remarks reflect the broader debate on how public programming in national channels should model cultural and artistic standards while remaining sensitive to diverse audiences.