Diana Loginova, who works under the pseudonym Naoko, was convicted of “discrediting” the army through her songs Photo: not supplied / WillWest News / Profimedia
Diana Loginova and Alexander Orlov, who became famous in Russia for their act of artistic dissent, served several consecutive prison terms before fleeing the country, Reuters writes.
Two young musicians who were jailed for more than a month in Russia for singing anti-Kremlin songs have left the country after being released from detention, according to Russian media.
Vocalist Diana Loginova, 18, and guitarist Alexander Orlov, 22, members of the band Stoptime, were detained on October 15 in downtown St. Petersburg after they played an improvised version of the popular song “Swan Lake Cooperative” by Russian rapper Noize MC – a vocal critic of the Kremlin – in the street.
Their song went viral on Russian social media. Stoptime drummer Vladislav Leontyev was also arrested.
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The St. Petersburg-based website Fontanka reported that Loginova left Russia after being released from custody on Sunday. Another source told the Kommersant daily that both Loginova and Orlov are now out of the country. None of the sources specified their current whereabouts.
The case against the band Stoptime has attracted significant media attention in Russia, where public expression of dissent is rare. Authorities have cracked down on any opposition to the Kremlin since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Singers critical of the authorities have fled the country and are considered traitors by pro-Kremlin politicians. Many were designated “foreign agents,” a label that has Soviet espionage connotations.
Carousel arrests
The Stoptime trio have been tried repeatedly by Russian courts since their first arrest in October, with the youths serving short prison sentences for minor law violations such as blocking access to the subway and hooliganism.
Loginova, a music college student, was also found guilty of “discrediting” the Russian military and fined 30,000 rubles ($379) for singing another anti-Kremlin song.
Human rights organizations explained that the artists were the target of “carousel arrests” – suspects being detained repeatedly, each time they are released.
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Loginova and Orlov left detention on Sunday after serving their latest sentence, St. Petersburg media reported. The two got engaged during the incarceration cycle.
Drummer Leontiev also served several short sentences and was released earlier this month.
Amnesty International called for the musicians' release, stating that their “only 'offense' is that of 'playing songs that challenge the suffocating official narrative'.”
Loginova's mother, Irina, previously told reporters that she believes her daughter and her bandmates did nothing wrong and that she doesn't know why their concerts have attracted so much attention from the authorities and the media.
