Singer Zemfira, known in Russia for her stance as a foreign agent, addressed circulating rumors about obtaining French citizenship on her Telegram channel. In her message, she affirmed that she remains a citizen of the Russian Federation and stated clearly that she has not and will not acquire any additional citizenships. She admitted that although she has not lived in Russia for over a year, she continues to file taxes within the country. Zemfira also expressed pride in her homeland and in her own heritage, while making it plain that she does not support the current authorities.
The performer further shared that she has submitted a formal request to the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation. Through this appeal, she asked the ministry to verify for her the existence of foreign funds she has never possessed. The aim, she explained, is to clear any confusion about potential financial connections with overseas sources.
Rumors about a potential second citizenship surfaced publicly on May 31. A Telegram channel named Shot claimed that Zemfira might hold French citizenship in addition to her Russian nationality, a claim that drew attention from fans and observers alike.
Previously, the Ministry of Justice added Zemfira to its foreign agents roster in February 2023. The ministry’s official site noted that the singer openly supported Ukraine by performing in countries viewed as hostile to Russian policies, and that she reportedly received funding from foreign sources. On May 10, 2023, Zemfira filed a lawsuit with the Ministry of Justice to challenge the foreign agent designation, and the court scheduled a hearing to decide whether she should be removed from the list on June 14.