The Russian authorities have placed Ukrainian singer Jamala on a wanted list on an undisclosed criminal charge, as per a report from Mediazona. The performer, whose real name is Susana Jamaladinova, was added to the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs wanted database in October. Interestingly, she was arrested in absentia, meaning she was not physically present when the arrest warrant was issued.
The charges against her are suggested by law enforcement agencies, as indicated in an article by the Russian news agency TASS, to be associated with a case involving the spread of false information about the Russian Army. Further elaboration by Mediazona implies that Jamala is accused of spreading “fake news” per article 207.3 of the Criminal Code.
This article, also known as the “Fakes Law,” was signed by Vladimir Putin subsequent to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. With anti-war protests occurring in Russia, this new law primarily served as a major instrument in suppressing any dissenting expression. The Russian government introduced this law ostensibly for the protection of its soldiers and officers. However, its vague language provision facilitates censoring of objectionable behavior or speech. The law explicitly targets any deception about the Russian Armed Forces, with violators attracting significant fines or imprisonment for a duration ranging from three to fifteen years.
Notably, Jamala, the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest winner (representing Ukraine), openly opposes Russia’s war in Ukraine. Her winning song, titled “1944,” highlighted the deportation of the Crimean Tatar ethnic group by Joseph Stalin in 1944, a highly controversial topic in the post-Soviet space. The song reflects upon the 2014 Russian invasion of Crimea. Despite not directly mentioning this event, it nevertheless led to criticisms from Russian officials. Reportedly, in April 2022, Jamala was prohibited from entering Russia for fifty years.
Read the full story here.