Alisher Morgenstern, known in some circles as a foreign agent in the Russian Federation, faced denial of entry to the United Arab Emirates after giving an interview to journalist Ksenia Sobchak. This development was confirmed by Morgenstern’s lawyer, Sergei Zhorin, who spoke to TASS about the incident.
The lawyer noted that access to Morgenstern was blocked in November 2023. He explained that the move stemmed from an allegedly innocent person reporting to Dubai law enforcement authorities, a report which Zhorin says was unfounded and misleading.
According to Zhorin, Morgenstern did not violate UAE laws and he asserts that the ban was issued without a clear official explanation. The rapper addressed the UAE authorities via his YouTube channel, stating that he regards Dubai as a second home and that he has never broken UAE law in his life. He emphasized his desire to understand the official reason behind the entry ban, noting the spread of negative rumors alleging legal violations and boasting about them.
Reports from Mash noted that Morgenstern kept quiet about alleged missteps. His Telegram channel claimed the entry ban arose from a series of violations, including accusations that he ignored Covid restrictions at performances and organized drunken parties after concerts. One controversial event allegedly occurred on site, prompting a complaint to UAE authorities. Morgenstern was also accused of cursing and smoking on stage, acts prohibited by law in many Arab countries, and allegedly boasting about them on social media.
In response, the musician faced legal action, but Mash reported that rather than engaging in a corrective interview, Sobchak discussed how she bypassed UAE laws. A day after the broadcast, Morgenstern reportedly received a ban on performing in the UAE and a broader ban on entering the country.
Bali without Galkin
On January 27, another foreign artist ran into entry problems, this time in Bali. Maxim Galkin, who is also recognized as a foreign agent in Russia, was not granted entry to Bali where he had planned a concert.
Galkin had been slated to perform at IC Center Bali with the program “Beautiful is not far away,” but the border authorities refused him entry. The decision may have been linked to political remarks made during concerts in Antalya, Limassol, and other cities, where he publicly supported the Ukrainian armed forces and criticized Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow.
Galkin stated that the denial was based on a letter from Russian authorities and noted that his work visa had been approved just two days earlier. He described the explanation as brief and repeated by several officials. The artist added that border guards were courteous, even expressing mild surprise at the situation, and he criticized what he called the obstructionist handling by Russian officials, arguing that such actions waste time and effort that could be better spent serving the country.
Deportation of Bi-2
The members of the band Bi-2, previously fined in Thailand, were detained in Phuket after a concert at the Illuzion club and were subsequently moved toward deportation. Local media and the Russian Consulate General in Phuket confirmed that the band members, who reportedly hold Israeli citizenship, were being processed for deportation following the encounter with Thai authorities. Reports indicated that the Russian consulate asked Thai authorities to verify the musicians’ documents and to determine whether they had authorization to perform in the country.
“Toxic Counter-Cultural Figures”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova commented to the publication Podium, saying that Russian diplomats clearly expressed their stance on the SVO, and therefore the fines against Bi-2 and the entry denial for Galkin should not come as a surprise. Zakharova added that no one should suffer from problems created by individuals who fund or endorse terrorism.
She went on to criticize what she described as a pattern of funding from various sources, including figures who act as counter-cultural influencers, highlighting the potential consequences of such sponsorship. Her remarks underscored the ministry’s view that actions by public figures can have broader geopolitical implications and invite government scrutiny.