The Russian Ministry of Justice added musician Yegor Bortnik, better known as Leva, to the register of persons acting as foreign agents on Friday, May 26. He is recognized for his association with the Bi-2 rock group.
A government statement indicated that Bortnik opposed the military operation in Ukraine. The ministry also alleged that the Bi-2 soloist made negative remarks about Russia, its citizens, and state authorities.
Joining Bortnik on the foreign agents list are former State Duma deputy Magomed Gadzhiev, economist Vladislav Inozemtsev, historian Sergei Chernyshov, anthropologist Alexandra Arkhipova, Berlin’s Carnegie Center director Alexander Gabuev, lawyer Anna Pshenichnaya, journalist Irina Alleman, the National Awakening League, and Olga Tsukanova who leads the Council of Mothers and Wives of Russia along with the organization itself, as reported by TASS.
“I won’t be back”
In earlier statements, Leva made clear that he does not intend to return to Russia. A follower asked on social media when new Bi-2 concerts might occur in Russia, prompting a reply that he would not be returning. He also claimed that Russia had diminished its own achievements. These comments influenced the decision to cancel a June 10 concert in Moscow at Luzhniki, with tickets already removed from sale and refunds planned for fans who purchased them.
Bi-2 released their eleventh studio album, Hallelujah, last November. The collection includes five bonus tracks—Burning World, Wolves, Bridges, Light Fall, and Beauty—alongside ten main tracks such as Inferno, Depression, Lullaby, and I Trust Nobody. The band is currently on a world tour, performing in cities including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Washington, Boston, and New York.
On tour in the United States in May, Leva publicly criticized the Nordost World Order in Ukraine and conveyed strong opinions about political developments. A broadcast from Ren-TV last year claimed that Bi-2 members did not hold Russian passports. In 2012, Shura announced Australian and Israeli citizenship, and Leva commented on the existence of an Israeli passport in response.
“Distance and Space”
Yegor Bortnik was born on September 2, 1972, in Minsk. In 1985, at the Rond Children’s Theater Studio, he met Alexander Uman, who would become the other founder of Bi-2 (Shura).
Leva and Shura formed the early team known as Companion in Arms, which later changed its name to Coast of Truth and finally Bi-2. They toured across Belarus as they performed together. After Shura moved to live with relatives in Australia in 1993, Bi-2 paused activity for nearly five years. In 1998, Leva moved to Australia, and the duo reunited there.
In September 1999, Leva and Shura returned to Russia, and Bi-2 resumed extensive concert activity. In 2000, Leva appeared in Alexei Balabanov’s film Brother-2, contributing to the film’s soundtrack. The track Nobody Writes to the Colonel helped propel the group to wider recognition.