She’s the Russian-Tajik singer who sang for the whole of Europe at Eurovision 2021. But almost a year later, Manizha and other Russian singers now have to live under sanctions imposed as a result of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Manizha has spoken to the media about the effect these sanctions are having on her musical output in the Russia of 2022.
Manizha discusses sanctions and Russian artists in 2022
Several weeks ago, Manizha released her song “Soldier”. Although she wrote the track 11 years ago and planned to release it in November, Manizha found that it became relevant at the present time.
Speaking to Dutch broadcaster NOS, Manizha has described being an artist right now in Russia:
“Every one of us has become a soldier, because everyone is right now fighting for their own truth. Someone’s truth is leaving, someone’s truth is being scared, someone’s truth is to go out and scream. It has become very difficult to do, what is not difficult.”
“I believe, not taking in mind that I wrote [“Soldier”] 11 years ago, that I wrote up the scenario in November and that I felt that I shouldn’t release it in November but in February.”
“It’s scary to acknowledge that exact word and to sit in prison. It’s scary to say your opinion.”
Manizha on not being able to monetise her songs
Swedish streaming giant Spotify became one the latest services to leave Russia, after entering the market in June 2020. Russian artists can also no longer monetise their music through YouTube.
In Russia, artists are currently heavily monitored by local media, with accusations of treason being made to those who leave the country. With the sanctions, the country’s music industry is moving inward.
During the interview to NOS, Manizha said:
“I think the musical isolation of Russian singers is not fair. Now, Russian artists have been barred from publishing their music on global platforms. Even the song “Soldier”, nobody did support from global platforms. I understand it, yes, because… But, it seems to me, it’s not right. Because many have something to say.”
“I’m scared of the future, because of the sanctions that happen today which are destroying. The first things that they destroy are the charities.”
“Do we have to leave, emigrate, forget about children which are ill with cancer here? Scary of course. Of course, it’s not the same as with what happens to the citizens of Ukraine. People are dying. There is such a large feeling of helplessness. It terribly tears apart my heart inside.”
“If you talk about concerts, now I have no mood [for it]. Although it’s also not fair. Music should sound, it should sound to unite and help people. You know, every day, I work on myself to continue. Because I believe in the power of music. Nothing happens while we are not united.”
In her Eurovision song “Russian Woman”, Manizha sang about a wall which women have to break through, as a symbol for the glass ceiling in Russia. Recalling that lyric, Manizha told NOS:
“The wall of a year ago, and the wall now are like two different walls. The wall grows, that’s clear. And possibly now our task is to not throw it over with our bodies, but to think ‘maybe we can go around it’.”
Ukraine Is The Best!
In Russia, people even before the war used to donate by SMS’s for treatment and abroad operations for ill children. There is little to no support from the Russian state for the ill, as most of the state’s budget goes to army, and the rest is being stolen. Even with the support that is granted by law, many medical life-saving technologies were simply not available in Russia’s outdated hospitals. The most vulnerable members of Russian society were ordinarily dying, neglected and forgotten by everybody, and now even more mass deaths are incoming as so many remained without live-sustaining treatments… Manizha… Read more »
there are many politics which i hated and which decisions were devastating to the humanity in the past but there is no
witch hunton them. i strongly support Russian artists to express themselves not involving politics into the art. Freedom to humanity and i hope that there will be no labeling of the people in the future.I’m (not really) sorry to do this. But for everyone commenting that RUSSIANS, themselves, are not to blame, please watch this video of multiple Russians insulting Ukrainians, their language, and their culture. Please note, one of the comments is from a Russian who states that the majority of Russia now believes in the eradication of Ukraine as a culture.
https://www.reddit.com/r/ukraine/comments/tzq6do/interesting_the_blood_of_the_ukrainian_children/
Blaming games can never work out. If you zoomed in on some discussions before the invasion in Ukraine, the same can be found. In fact, let’s be frank, both countries, with their nationalist ideology, have been very ugly towards each other – including those with different ethnicity but with the same nationality. One is never born with an independent mind. They are influenced by the environment and all kinds of information. Art, as one of the kinds, can help break through the suppressive ideologies. Isolation of the musicians may not help, because it is those independent, those disobedient that will… Read more »
Russia’s Human Rights seat in the UN was just REVOKED. — Work on that first, then we will talk, like in 20 years.
“Russian heritage and culture should not be cancelled”
While it represents peace and human rights values.
Russian Eurovision artists participated and created their careers sponsored by Russian regime, specially by the last 15 years. Same by the Oligarchs, they’d be nothing without the regime they benefited from.
Sergey, Polina, Tolmachevy, Manizha, Julia Samoylova, Dima… all of them accepted to be the image-washing puppets of Kremlin to see their careers grow.
Sorry, these are the consequences of years against basic human rights. Go change your criminal country and will have Spotify back
We have the 21st century, Russia is openly invading a neighboring country, murdering civilians and bombing cities. The Russians are a bit shocked at first, but after a month they generally backed Vladimir Putin. Not only because of widespread propaganda. They want it.
Are you singing about that soldier?
„Russian soldier Michail Tkach (20 years old) from Vladivostok is a war criminal who murdered civilians in Bucha. He is proud of his accomplishments and threatens to kill more civilians”.
“It is not just about Ukraine, it is a war for Europe. The war is taking place in Ukraine, but all of Europe is at stake. That is why we, the West, must start to seriously think about winning this war. Not about any pacts and agreements, it’s ridiculous. The Kremlin will never want an agreement, we should stop believing in it”.
The isolation of singers may not be fair, but we all know that Russia would use the ESC to promote their “freedom”-propaganda and above that provoke the audience with some contradictory, pointless and ironically meant freedom-ballad.
Do you really believe that Russia’s goal is to attack only Ukrainian territory?
Dmitri Medvedev – prime minister – called the massacre in Bucha an example of a fake, “grown in the cynical imagination of Ukrainian propaganda. And attention!!! He also said that Russia’s goal is to build an open Eurasia from Lisbon to Vladivostok. Do you still trust Russia?
Euroasiavision? No, thanks!!!!
Dear Manizha. Let the Russians overthrow the Kremlin! What are you waiting for? Your indifference is the same crime. People in Ukraine are being killed by Russian soldiers. For you, it is more important to promote a single about the soul of a sensitive soldier from Russia.
And killing innocent people is fair?
It’s humiliating to think that singers should only sing and concentrate on their art, ignoring what’s going on around them. It’s not only good voices they possess, they also have brains and hearts. The mass murder of innocent people in Ukraine is done in their name also, in the name of Great Russia of Culture that was so admired by the whole world until very recently.
Manizha, I think bombing the innocent Ukrainian singers is not fair. So, shut the f#c@ up!
You know what is unfair, dear Manizha? Being raped, tortured and killed by russians despite a fact that you are only 3 years old. Sanctions are nothing compared to this.
Let all Russians revolt against their despicable leaders. Replace the autocracy facist regime first, then they are welcome back. Disgusted by Russia.
I want to see russia goodbye
These artists should stop complaining about monetizing their music. There are countries without Spotify, other artists are not on Spotify at all. They should think about their male relatives who might be sent to Ukraine tomorrow, by the wrong side.
They should go touring to their “friendly countries” Serbia, China and Pakistan.
And Hungary.
Georgia is the only Eurovision Song that did it with video, but you all didn’t notice it, but when it’s Russian artist, even manizha you are the first to notice
A message to Wiwi moderators: My comment has just been filtered, because I was mentioning some things the Russian goverment and police are reportedly doing to the people they keep in custody. They aren’t pleasant to read, and of course, I understand if the comment never sees the light of day. However, I want to say that I never wanted to cause personal discomfort to anyone on this board. Sorry in advance.
Unfortunately this is part of the santions imposed. They are necessary so Russian Citizens can also pressure Putin. I read a Sergey Lazarev’s facebook post ranting because he had to postpone his concerts until August due to the lack of resources blaming the restrictions. He didn’t say a word about the horror his country is causing to the Ukraine. I may feel sorry for Manisha but Russia is reeaping what they sow.
Sergey condemned the war on his Insta and Facebook already on the first day, but allegedly authorities had tried to come after his children. He only restored his Insta some days ago, but is not updating it anymore. He’s mostly active on Telegram now and he seems ok, I read somewhere that he fled abroad, with the whole family.
This is the thing that people don’t realize. Even if one is able to fled, there are always friends and family endangered. Especially in cases when someone is a parent. I applaud everyone who stood up against the war, even if by one sentence, from the start. It was a message they were able to send. Now, they risk jail and perhaps even worse, not only for themselves, but potentially their families. Of course, I get the feelings of anger, anxiety and desperation, but I’d rather center them on those actively doing harm, and those actively supporting them.
Rumour has it that after the show cancellations he fled to Turkey. Still you cannot be too vocal even abroad as he is well known not to be very Pro-Putin, as Novichock may be going your way.
do not feel sorry for murderers
Das v danya Russyia!
Just like a Russian. It’s all about ME ME ME. No concern for anyone else. ESC is a privilege, not a right, just like participating in the world. So, to all Russians, you have A LOT a HUGE burden to carry to EVER be welcomed back into the modernized and democratic world. And I don’t see you meeting your burden for AT LEAST a decade, if not two.
I from Russia kindly thank you for all the hate. It really hurts to read stuff like that. Although there are lots of kind comments which warm my heart
Poor baby got some hate comments on the internet. Go watch what your army is doing in Ukraine right now, it might give you some proportions. I will buy you a VPN if you can’t access information. The “hate” you are being given is nothing comparing to what the Ukrainians have to deal right now. So shut up.
Comments like this are ridiculous, when we know the UK, France, Spain and most colonial powers have massacred millions all over the world… Now it seems only dead Ukranians count.
You are killing people! What is wrong with you!?!!!?
Dude, you don’t deserve any civilisation because you are xenophobic and sick
No. I am speaking the truth about Russian people. Russia = Genocidal nutjobs
Most European countries have been genocidal nutjobs. Look at what Spain, England, Portugal, France and others have done in Africa, Asia, the Americas, etc. Now it seems there’s only Russia to blance.
I mean to say “blame”.
Because most countries have at least somewhat faced their violent pasts and moved to become far much more peaceful places, we are talking about a country doing this in the 21st century
Ok, just for your information when i.e. Spain and Portugal had empires like 200 or 300 years ago killing each other was the norm all around the World. Now we know it’s bad because in the West we have something called conscience. But Russia doesn’t and you don’t either. You must be really dead inside to say such things with the things that happen everyday to come up with whataboutism from 19th century events to justify what happens today .
Its a very sad situation, music is what brings us together here, regardless of culture and taste and language. I hope one year in the future Russia rejoins the Eurovision party, we are all human after all . Bad things are always the result of the actions of a minority . It is a moral duty to support Ukraine in this current time, place and space and boycotting Russia is a peaceful means to take action. I respect Manizha, but her focus should be on the atrocities her country is inflicting on others. Use the power of her music to… Read more »
typical russian she is
Until the Kremlin collapses, until Russia pays for the destroyed cities, as long as Putin and his people are alive, until Russia stands before the Hague Tribunal – he will never come back to the European family. And remmeber – Never believe Russia. This is a crazy country built on the cult of strength, lies and violence.
Also this must apply for UK & USA too, they should leave the ESC Family and don’t return until their crimess in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria could be equaly paid in thw Hage tribunal, and the UN Veto segurity rights should be abolish for all because both Russia and USA abusses on it..
Leave Russia and start a new life being free, for you and your children.
I think she’ll eventually do so, the circumstances are pushing her and her peers to do so
Still, if you are too vocal against Putin and being famous, someone may be dropping some Novichock in your underpants even if you are abroad.
*putin
She’s right, of course. Boycotting Russian artists is counterproductive when these artists actually are independent voices who know what’s going on. But the problem is, for every Manizha there’s a Polina Gagarina, who supports Putin’s war and uses her voice to fan the flames.
But canceling concerts from Tchaikovsky’s music, for instance, is such BS. If you do that you need to learn your history.
No. Boycotting ALL of Russia is REQUIRED. Acknowledging any Russian business, individual, artitist, etc. is acknowledgment that what Russia is doing is acceptable. So, I ADAMANTLY disagree with your argument.
I assumed you boycotted the US, China, UK etc when the time came
Are you really defending Russia by redirecting the argument? Sicko.
Boyycotting such psychos like you is more requirable, people like you support Putin in this hatered madness
I think there is an important difference. You can boycott the ones that are close to kremlin. But why should we cancel Russian culture? Particularly the artists that are no longer here. If people want to read Tolstoy or Dostoevsky or listen to Tchaikovsky’s music that means that they support what is happening in Ukraine? Will that benefit the Russian regime? It doesn’t make sense. Thankfully, we are in Europe and we should behave according to our values. There is no inquisition, censorship or blind cancellation.
Don’t you know Dostoevsky’s messianic Russia advocacy? He was the main figure among ultra-right in his time and promoted the Great Russia whose offspring is the current “Ruskyy mir” idea. And it is only one instance! Many great Russian cultural figures praised this kind of idea, and disrespect other ethnics like Ukrainians. Since those cultural heritage has nurished the current Russian atrocities, you couldn’t be cautious enough receive Russian culture.
She wants the best of both worlds, and she doesn’t use the forbidden word : w a r. Hmmmmm!
Saying ”war” can get you in jail for 15 years in Russia now. She said a lot in the beginning.
You are so brave in another country and being anonymous, people’s lifes don’t even bother you then
Well, if you have an anti-war song that speaks to the current events, you release it right away. It was a good call. The power of music can do wonders for those willing to listen.
Manizha probably means well. I think what she means to say is, that by shutting down artists, you silence a group which can serve as a critical voice towards the Russian regime.
But she cannot say this in a straightforward manner.
When Britain invaded Iraq based on fake intelligence reports of Saddam’s weapons of mass destruction and caused the death of thousands of civilians, nobody said it is right to apply sanctions on British artists. So, why do some people think now it is right to punish Russian artists? And let’s not forget that British artists were free to take a stand against their government but it is very dangerous to do it in Russia today.
Britain didn’t want to annex Iraq to the United Kingdom and the history of that war is more complex than you want to make appear. Putin killed thousands in Chechnya and Syria and probably you never care. So your comparison is just a nonsense!
I have a PhD in modern history and my master’s degree was in Britain’s crimes in all its colonies but you know better.
In Moscow University?
And what? You want to argue that Russian people can be educated and only Americans now real history of the world?) When they can’t even learn basic geography
If you believe in Russian propaganda world they tell you the truth about history in the schools, then i am sorry for you…
So if you have really a Master’s Degree and PhD you shouldn’t have written that previous comment, comparing the Iraqi war with the situation in Ukraine. The Russian propaganda does that. The decolonisation happened decades ago. Stop blaming the past and concentrate on the present moment. China is colonising all Africa. And China is not a democracy. Worry about that.
Yes, of course there are differences, big ones – but one thing they have in common is ignoring the Geneva Convention.
Yeah they just wanted to cripple their economy, destroy the country and stereotype them as terrorists for eternity.
Barack Obama sent in drones to kill thousands of innocent people. Today he jokes around with Bruce Springsteen. You are right, there are different rules for different people.
The Nobel Prize was a mistake? yes. Is He a criminal? I doubt about it. Putin is a criminal.
Barack Obama does not get an exemption from the fourth Geneva Convention laws.
As long as the killing of the Ukrainian population continues, we do not want to see or hear anything that comes from Russia.
send your complains to your dictator leader, innocent people are dying for nothing because of your country and you dont want sanctions? well, being human being is first, before music. the west must ban russia in every way they can, this is what it is called pressure, your cowered people in russia are doing nothing to stop the war (except the few brave demonstrators) so you need to be punished, all of you and pressure in every aspect is the way to go.
change your leaders if you want a change, until then suffer in silence
Well, Manizha *was among* the ”few brave protesters” the very same day, by condeming the war on her Instagram. It reached thousands. Guess what? Brainwashed propaganists don’t care, and now they have restricted the protests, and brought new sanctions for even mentioning a single thing not confirmed by the president. It’s horrifying!
Also, the pressure would work if their government would care about their own people. They don’t P*tin and his b*ches would rather see every Russian child starve to death then to show their fragile egos being shown as anything but ”winners”. They are evil and pathetic!
What did she write in exact words? If she writes that she is for peace and not saying that Russia is the offender it means nothing, it could I fact be interpreted as supporting the Russia’s “peace action” . I was suspicious already last year about her song. It was dubious in so some ways.
First off, saying *anything* even putting a black square on your Insta, can get you in serious trouble in Russia. So, I wouldn’t condemn people who are staying more or less on the fence (I only condemn those, like Gagarina, who openly support the war!) But, Manizha did say a couple of things while she could. Here (Google-translated from Russian, so about 90-95% accurate): Posted on the very first day of the invasion: ”This is the morning when you regret waking up. You don’t know where to go, whom to help. I sit on the corner of the bed and… Read more »
Since there is no editing:
She can leave Russia, that is the whole point. Staying there and choosing your words so you don’t offend the regime is a kind of supporting the regime as long as it is possible to leave. Even worse when you complain. It is possible that she is a marionette. She sang with the help of the broad caster that is propaganda machine. So at least I have no trust in her.
To write that it is against the will of both our people is scary . One is attackning the other. Like the victim have anything to do with it.
What do you want exactly, Twitter head, she will go and kill all the government herself or what else? People are so easy to say about how to fix this, while living in another continents, Russians were against their government during whole ussr, no matter what propaganda says and we knew who is Putin, while you laughed at his jokes and gave him person of the year awards
YOou are attacking me, being extremly rude , but that dont change the fact that Russia is attacing an innocent country and she is living there and have ben competing for that regime’s propaganda machine under their flag. In Russia the broadcaster, that she Working with, has been and is vital to create the situation. I have not Done the same. So she should as will as all Russians do what they can to stop what is gooing on. Not complaing about others that react.
Stupid little kid, teach 126 millions of people how to overthrow governments, you are such an experts sitting home on your momma’s neck and she is paying for your depths
Not true, we are going to the streets in Europe when we don’t agree with the government of our country.
I’m not sure if it’s the translation, but… ‘fair’ is not the right word here.
‘Not fair’ is the war in Ukraine.
Artists in Russia may suffer from the sanctions, their voice may be less heard of, itmay affect their business, but it’s not ‘unfair’. Any other word, but ‘unfair’.
In Russian language it sounds okey, English translation ruins everything
I don’t care that they can’t make money. Russia, as a whole, has to be punished and sanctioned. If you start making exceptions, all you do is condone what Russia is doing. Don’t let the Russians fool you. Crocodile tears.
I agree with Manizha. Remember, the highlighted title has been selected by the editors, not by her. It’s not like this statement should be taken out of the context of what she actually said. Nobody thinks that Russian artists being shunned is *more* important than restoring the peace. Read the article. But, she is right. Russian artists who opposed the war are boycotted by their own broadcasters, and yet not given platform by the outside world, which is absurd. Now is the time to support every single Russian who spoke against the war. This is NOT an anti-Russian protest, this… Read more »
She was supported by the broad caster last year. So I am not sure about her.
Last year was last year. First off, there was a literal internal investigation about her by the broadcaster because she wasn’t regime-friendly. Second, things changed massively in the last two months.
It has been planned for years. The ideas were that lay the ground for what is happening in Ukraine were there and spread by the broad caster. They already had attacked Krim. So no she was willingly putting herself in front of that.
Anyone might add: …and whatever it is they are doing in Ukraine right now, they had already done exactly the same in Georgia before! Why do people forget about Georgia?
Well, they finally remember it now. What’s true though, is that they (the Westerners) apparently couldn’t care less about Georgia before. And most likely that ignorance just made Putin think he could get away with everything in the first place.
Europe still owes Georgia an apology. But I’m afraid there’ll never be one and it will also still take the EU some fifteen or more years to grant Georgia EU membership. 🙁
you are spreading the idea that this is the ”westerns” fault. No the agressor is russia. And maybe the ”westerns” where naive for a long time. This war orened some eyes. It is howerever still Russia who attacked and planned what happened here and in tjetjenia as well. Why should Europe apologize to something they have not Done?
Of course Russia is the aggressor. But Europeans owe Georgia an apology for their hipocrisy. They didn’t bother in 2008, they only do now that the war is at their doorstep.
This is not the time to complain about not being able to monetize your music.
It might not be fair to you, yes, as you are a person who doesn’t support war.
But if you wanna blame someone for this “unfairness”, then blame Putin, not west.
Sanctions are put for a reason…
Ukrainian kids are dying, starving..being shot…
civillians are mass murdered, bullets to their heads and left on streets.
Mothers are being raped infront of their children….
No this is not the time to complain about sanctions about music…..
No, we knew who Putin is for 20 years, while West was giving him person of the year awards and west doesn’t do anything to help Ukraine, Ukraine begged to close the sky and help with ammunition, and now you see massacres and it’s all your faults, when belorussians were against lulaschenko you didn’t do anything either
truth.
Again shifting the blame. “The West” (who exactly? Germany? France? UK? US? Lithuania?) may be complicit of appeasement but the fault none other’s than Russia’s
I don’t think we’ll see Russian again at the Eurovision Song Contest in my lifetime, and I hope to live to 2048 at least.
Gladly, Putin can’t plan to live until 2048. And hopefully the sanctions will come to bite his a$$ real good real fast. Also, as the grandson of a volunteer Waffen-SS member, I can assure you that change for good can happen astonishingly quick. One day, the Russian people will see the truth for what it is. They will realize what their soldiers, their very own husbands, sons and brothers did in Butcha, Mariupol and elsewhere. And they will bow their heads in shame and make it their life goal to never let such things happen again. I’m very positive you’ll… Read more »
The russians have not Done their homework on what happened during a the stalin and soviet era. This is one of the reasons to what is happening now. Germans did that. So it is not sure that the same clearing bath happens in every country.
I could feel sorry for them, but at the same time I don’t.
Yeah, she gave orders to invade Ukraine herself, logic
I think killing innocent kids and raping women isn’t fair. It is Russian president, Russian government, Russian troops and Russian public opinion who are doing this slaughtering. Keep Russians and everything what comes from there (incl. music) away from us. For the safety reason.
Was about to write exactly the same.
Russian people must sort their shi*t out first.
Funny to hear it from people who overthroned dictators like you, I know that you weren’t be able to do anything if you were living in Russia, so you don’t have any reason to tell such things
Russian public opinion is against it lol
No, keep such xenophobes away from the world, because hating nation of 126 millions just because of few butchers is weird, considering that all contriea have war crimes, but people who doesn’t even go near politics aren’t to blame
80% of russians support the war
The West needs to do a lot more in order to help Ukraine defeat Russia. More money, more supplies, more bans, more sanctions, and more weapons.
They should invade Russia from all the sides with their best weapopns, millons of soldiers and nuclear wapons to destroy the country, but also controlling China too!
Well, the slaughtering of civilians in Bucha isn’t fair, the attempt to destroy a sovereign independent country is unfair, the attempt by one country to force another in a particular direction (away from the west) isn’t fair.
Don’t blame the west Manizha, “don’t be afraid girl” and make change at home, be the woman you sing about.
She is not blaming the West for the war or saying that the sanctions are comparable with the war crimes in any way. She was specifically asked about her situation. It’s hard. And I agree that those who are anti-regime (and who risk arrest and torture in Russia with every word they say) shouldn’t be treated like so poorly by the outsiders. They do what they can. Manizha tries. Her songs inspire people to do good. Of course, such large change cannot come over night, not just by some people brave enough to speak against the war. But she is… Read more »
Sorry Colin I don’t agree. Manizha isn’t trying, singing a song is pointless without putting the words in which you sing about is put into action. It’s all empty words about nothing. Her POV only proves the situation Russians face. “Oh I can’t make money off Spotify, oh I can’t let foreigners hear my music, oh I can’t have a Big Mac” people are actually dying and she knows this. Sure she might not agree and she might not support it but people like her are the only ones that can “be the change” as she do beautifully put in… Read more »
Thousands of people are being arrested for protesting. Now, they would risk up to 15 years in jail for doing the same thing they did the first few days. You in Ireland, and me in Croatia have NO IDEA how it feels like having no voice, and your freedom depending on that. Still, even in this context, she DID say anti-war stuff, she DID protest. What do you expect? Her going armed on Kremlin? You’d dare? She does more than 90% of people there. And yes, she was specifically asked about her current situation. Read the article. The highlighted ”unfair”… Read more »
We’ll agree to disagree Colin because I don’t want to have a big argument, I do like talking with you.
I just think nothing will change unless people make the change. They can’t put EVERYONE in prison. There are ways of doing it. Autocratic regimes have been toppled countless times in the past.
I like talking to you, and I know you mean well. 🙂 Yes, autocratic regimes have been toppled when the majority of people were willing to risk their own lives (and in all of those cases, many people were killed in the process). In Russia, Manizha and some artists like her are among 15-25% of people who say that out loud. Others are afraid to even think it. Thousands will get killed. Only millions can stop it. It’s not up to one person, or even thousands. Sadly. 🙁
I mean, read her instagram posts before they were shut. There are several of them explicity condeming war, and explicitly talking about civilians and children in war, and how they must be helped. She explicitly stated anti-war sentiments several times, even after they were outlawed by the government. Please don’t let one statement, in the context of asking about her career, derail from that. She is a part of the change. The issue is, millions of them have to follow for that to make a structural effect.
What did you do exactly so people in other countries didn’t die, not only in Ukraine, but in Iran and others, nothing too
So you can’t blame anyone
How? People are so stupid and dont care about life’s of other people, what to do you want from her? Go on suicide mission and try to assasinate Putin? Your countries still buying gas from Russia, but Russians, who were fighting against Putin since day one are to blame not people like you, who supported his humor
My country actually doesn’t buy gas from Russia. Don’t assume you know me, you don’t.
But what I do know, is Russian aggression in Ukraine is WRONG and sanctions are the best response to deter it, while also drawing regular Russians attention, as it seems to be elsewhere right now.
Lol, so you trying to be so kindhearted towards ukranians but want people with cancer in Russia to die? What’s wrong with you
I also heard that Ukraine will be accepted into the European Union and NATO. It won’t happen right after the war, but it will definitely happen. The most important year for the state will be 2025.
we do not want in NATO. You are not doing anything. Cowards.
I heard that Astrologer Arina Arturovna added that the tension and problems will continue until 2024, and the restoration of Russia will take 29 years.
Thus, it is noted that there will be attempts to overthrow the government in Russia.
“In any case, Russia will disintegrate and there will be a division of the territory. In place of the Russian Federation, some new states will arise, there will never be the Russia that we knew before,” says the astrologer.
By 2024, the astrologer claims, Putin himself will leave his post or be severely overthrown.
Still longer than I thought/hoped…
Biden calling for tribunal for Putin… How about a tribunal for those who bombed Iraq, Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Vietnam and other countries? You are all victims of Western propaganda.
Putin bombed Syria aswell….
To be precise: Putin bombed Syria to back a dictator who gassed his own people.
Let’s not be daft here. You cannot think ‘western propaganda’ has any weight whatsoever when compared to what propaganda is being sold to the Russian public right now through their media channels!
Whilst I stand firm that war in any capacity is a cruel monstrosity of a practice, there is a huge difference between people trying to make this world a safer place by removing dangerous dictators from their self-proclaimed positions of power; vs dictators who invade countries just to bolster up their ego, causing war crimes and committing genocide.
No, you are a victim of Russia propaganda. US has its own faults, but didn’t want to annex those countries, unlike Putin in Ukraine.
They did not bomb Yugoslavia. They bombed Serbia ! Serbia was the agressor filled with warcriminals. Just like Russia. They should do the same to Moscow as they did to Belgrade.
When people say, why don’t those flipping Russians just protest, I don’t think folks understand the scale of disinformation and oppression that exists there. I saw comments like, if a tenth of the Russian population or a quarter goes out and protests, the mad man in Kremlin won’t incarcerate all. So I googled how many people were incarcerated in Soviet GULAG system. 17 million. Would the mad man flinch? Hardly. The math of protests only works in democracies or shaky dictatorships. When the mad man has his disgusting tentacles everywhere and holds super tight, no protests would work. And hating… Read more »
Thank you for such for your kindness
People are dying and she talks about not being able to monetise her songs.
Well, life is unfair. But I guess it’s more unfair to find yourself as a refugee in another country after your home was bombed and your friends were killed, more than the unfairness of not being able to monetize your music.
I’m from Spain. My country participated on Irak war in 2003 (I was alive at that moment so I guess I count as a suporter for some people here) and it was against my will.
And I can talk about colonialism too…
But I am guilty of that? Because I’m totally against that agressions my country did during its whole story.
But I am agressor too I guess…
It is not the same thing, you are not helping using such whataboutism. You are just spreading confusion and suspicion like a Russian troll.
It’s not “such whataboutism”: it’s OUR story and our mistakes.
I don’t want to blame russian people which are against the war for what their dictator are doing. They are powerless people living under fear. Which is better than living on a war country, ofc. But not ideal.
It is when you say what about Spain you are avoiding the question that we are discussing and mislead others to believe you can compare two completely different situations. So yes it is full fledged whataboutism.
I stand with Ukraine. I’m in favor of economic punishments to Russia and we shouldn’t buy anything for them. Putin is a dictator. I condemn Russian’s actions in Ukraine.
And I think that deeply.
You know what else is not fair? People dying! 83% of Russians support this war.
You would support it too if you were a victim of Russian propaganda in the mass media
And you think that numbers are real and not because russians are scared too…
You may be surprised how many Russians actually support Putin. No matter what. No one questions that the number are twisted, but not too much though.
I will say one last thing about Russians. There are 150 million people in this huge country, If they found themselves in a North Korean regime it’s on them. If they watched what Putin has become during his endless reign and didn’t feel any need to do any significant action it’s on them. Maybe they are cowards, maybe they are stupid, maybe they are weak. Maybe they are weak, stupid cowards that think that 150 million people are entirely powerless. But it’s now not only their problem, it’s now the problem of the entire world. Whatever Russia has become it’s… Read more »
It’s not that black and white. At all. It’s not that Russians don’t care. If they go the streets. they sacrifice their whole life. They lose their jobs, go to prison, lose their family. People in the western world can never understand the fear of living in a society like that.
Weak cowards, as i said, thank you for proving my point. Watch a movie about maidan, see how people go on protest despite the fact that armed forces are waiting for them and shooting to kill. It’s a matter of character, which Russians lack.
I’m not an expert of Russia’s history or something, but think about their history in the last 100 years or so… They’ve always lived in fear under dictatorships. I tend to believe the people there are already used to it and just don’t want to speak up against anything because they still remember the times of the Soviet Union. I may be wrong of course, but it’s just a feeling. One thing for sure though – neither of us can judge Russians as we don’t live there. We don’t know how it is to live there under Putin’s regime. Some… Read more »
I was born in the Soviet Union and speak Russian as my first language. I know a lot of Russians who live in different parts of the world. I am not talking out of my fabulous as* I know very well what I’m talking about. I know them very very well. More than most people in here that are defending them.
Well, what are you doing in order to replace Putin then?
I am not Russian nor a Russian citizen, I did donate money to the Ukrainian efforts to kill as many of those c*nts as they can. What did you do?
Oh how easy it is to be so mouthy when you don’t have to act on your own.
It is also very easy to sympathize with the Russians while they are raping and killing others and not you and your family (yet). Very easy. This sympathy will all fade away very fast the second that a single Russian bomb will hit anywhere in your country. I guarantee you that. So enjoy your privilege to sympathize with those people, who know how long it will last.
People of eastern and central Europe got the same, if not worse, punishment for protesting against regimes in the 80s yet they all succeeded getting rid off communists. Russians do support Putin, as they had always supported russian regimes
It is black and white sometimes – if someone attacks a child in the street would you say it is not black and white. This is what is happening here.
Yeah, you say something against the regime and you’ll end poisoned, in jail, on a bloody gulag… you and your family. Even for going to a demonstration. That’s Totalitarism, you know? That’s not so easy.
Russian people =/= Putin.
Russian people supported this regime for decades. Only now they start to cry because they can’t buy pillows in IKEA or monetize their music on Spotify. Who’s fault is that they couldn’t build democratic society after USSR?
You know what a dictatorship is? Propaganda, no freedom of speech, lack of human rights, rigged elections… Fight against the regime sounds so beautiful and empowered, until you have a gun pointing at your nape. Who’s at fault? Not powerless russians for sure. They are not OK because they can’t drink a frapuccino, some of them are silent for pure fear. There are thousands of people in jail just for go to a demonstration against the regime. And obviously I’m pro Ukraine in this conflict and Putin should end on the international court for crimes against humanity. But I can’t… Read more »
Putin was not a president when USSR collapsed, so why other post-communism countries have democracy but Russia doesn’t? Maybe random russians prefer to have a dictatorship
“Fight against the regime sounds so beautiful and empowered, until you have a gun pointing at your nape.”
Who is pointing the gun? Alien’s from Mars? Americans? Or maybe other random russians?
Girl, it’s about who has the power. Oligarchs and similar have it. Random farmer in Siberia don’t, for example.
Who is pointing the gun? You already have your answer.
Do you really want to put everybody on the same box? Just wow.
I agree with her. Based. What if you’re a Russian civilian or artist and you don’t agree with Putin and what he’s doing? What are you supposed to do if your bank accounts are frozen and everything? What if you were a supporter of what he did but then saw the wrong in it and changed your opinion openly about it?
These are all questions and thoughts we must have. We can’t look at this from one side anymore.
It’s quite shocking where her thoughts and concerns are at this moment in time.
well, she openly criticized the war, now she’s just discussing the problems of musicians. I don’t think she puts it above the tragedy that continues in Ukraine
She was one of the first artists to condemn the war.