Singer detained in St. Petersburg after band plays songs by artists labeled "foreign agents"CEFR B1
22 Oct 2025
Adapted from Daria Dergacheva, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Bradley Andrews, Unsplash
Russian authorities opened a case in St. Petersburg after videos showed the street band Stoptime performing on Nevsky Prospect. The investigation centers on Diana "Naoko" Loginova, an 18-year-old student and the group’s vocalist.
The city prosecution charged Loginova under Part 1, Article 20.2.2 of the Administrative Code for organizing an unauthorized rally that disrupted public order. She was detained, spent the night in a police station and, according to Meduza, was brought to court in handcuffs. By decision of a local municipal court, she is now detained for 13 days. Stoptime’s guitarist and drummer have come under investigation, though they were not brought to court.
The group performed songs by artists declared "foreign agents," such as Monetochka, Noize MC, Zemfira and Pornofilmy. One song, Monetochka’s "It was in Russia," contains lyrics about sadness at leaving home and anger about Russia becoming an aggressive country, according to published translations. Local reporting says Noize MC’s song was declared "information prohibited in Russia" by the Primorsky District Court in May 2025.
Difficult words
- perform — to sing or play music for an audience.performed, performances
- charge — an official accusation of wrongdoing.charges
- detention — being held in custody or confinement.
- freedom — the state of being free to act.
- censorship — control over what can be said or published.
- express — to share thoughts or feelings.
- dissent — to disagree or have different opinions.dissenting
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- What do you think about freedom of speech for artists?
- How can music challenge censorship?
- What might happen if more artists face legal trouble like Naoko?
- Why is it important to discuss the treatment of dissenting views?
- How do you feel about the balance between security and freedom?
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