Russian Street Musician Jailed for Anti-Kremlin Songs

Russian street musician Diana Loginova, known for her anti-Kremlin performances, was fined for 'discrediting' the Russian army. She was previously jailed after drawing crowds with banned songs by Noize MC. Authorities drove her away post-court ruling, continuing the crackdown on dissenting artists.

An 18-year-old Russian street musician, Diana Loginova, was fined 30,000 roubles ($369) after being found guilty on Tuesday of 'discrediting' the Russian army by performing banned anti-Kremlin songs in public. The ruling follows her earlier 13-day jail sentence for organizing an unplanned gathering that obstructed metro access.

Loginova, a music student performing under the name Naoko with her band Stoptime, was initially arrested on October 15 due to a viral performance of 'Swan Lake Cooperative' by exiled Russian rapper Noize MC. Her recent court case also linked to her performance of 'You are a Soldier,' penned by artist Monetochka, who is labeled a 'foreign agent.'

A Reuters correspondent reported Loginova wasn't released post-verdict. Instead, Interior Ministry officers took her away in a civilian vehicle. The incident underscores ongoing tensions surrounding artistic expressions against Kremlin policies.