The well-known Russian pop singer Alla Pugacheva has sharply criticized the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Earlier, her husband, who denounced the actions of the Moscow leadership, was blacklisted as a ‘foreign agent’. Out of solidarity, Pugacheva now demanded the same for himself. With her comments, the singer, who is still considered a superstar in her home country, drew the ridicule and anger of official Russia.
She also asks to be counted among the foreign agents, “because I stand in solidarity with my husband, an honest, decent and sincere person,” the 73-year-old wrote on her Instagram account on Sunday. Her husband – the comedian Maxim Galkin – is a “true and unsaleable patriot of Russia, who wishes his homeland prosperity, a peaceful life, freedom of speech and an end to the dying of our fellowmen for illusory purposes that make our country a pariah and make life more difficult for our citizens.”
“Smile and Smart Shit”
The echo that followed this harsh criticism of the Russian invasion was great. Valery Fadeyev, head of the Russian president’s human rights commission, reacted angrily and mockingly. “These poets, harlequins and jugglers just need a way to sing and dance, mock and defecate vulgarly,” he wrote on his institution’s official website, commenting on the Vienna demand. With his formulation, he alluded to “Harlekino”, one of Pugacheva’s most famous songs. Russian rap singer Timati, who is close to the Kremlin, also complained about the singer’s alleged lack of patriotism.
However, the state media ignored their criticism of the war in their coverage, reporting only on their demand to be labeled a “foreign agent” too – a stigma in Russia. The Kremlin declined to comment on Pugacheva’s statement.
In Russia, there was also encouragement for the singer. Julia Navalnaya, wife of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, published Pugacheva’s criticisms on Instagram. British electro-pop band Pet Shop Boys tweeted: “We admire the courage and honesty of legendary Russian superstar Alla Pugacheva, who has denounced Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine and said he will make Russia a pariah.”
“Fire blow” for the Kremlin
Political scientist Abbas Galliamov, once the speechwriter of ruler Vladimir Putin, spoke of a “powerful blow” to the Kremlin. “If there are still important people in the country on whom there is consensus, then of course it is Pugacheva,” he wrote on his Telegram channel. You’ve always left politics out. “Their sudden politicization can create that feeling in society that is so dangerous for the authorities: ‘That’s enough,'” he said.
So far, Pugacheva had held back with political statements. After the war against Ukraine began, the couple left for Israel. She did so without a word, he criticized the Russian leadership in exile. Pugacheva has been shaping rock and pop music in Russia since the 1970s. Her success survived the fall of the Soviet Union – with her constant TV presence, she was one of the most dazzling show greats in Russia and her marriage to 27-year-old presenter and comedian Maxim Galkin was a constant topic for the tabloid press.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
