Russian authorities are investigating Soviet-era pop legend Alla Pugacheva for “discrediting” the army, after she spoke out against the war in Ukraine on social media, Russian state-run agency TASS reported on Tuesday.
Moscow police claimed a local citizen flagged the Instagram post from Pugacheva, asking them to investigate whether the celebrity was engaged in foreign-funded “unlawful activity” as well as “discrediting” the army.
On Sunday, Pugacheva took the side of her husband, comedian Maxim Galkin, who was labeled a “foreign agent” by the Russian justice ministry on September 16.
In a Instagram post, she called Galkin “a true and incorruptible patriot of Russia who wants his homeland to flourish in peace, with freedom of speech, and wants an end to our boys dying for illusory goals, which has turned our country into a pariah state and made life a burden for our citizens,” asking the authorities to make her a “foreign agent” as well.
People cast as “foreign agents” by Russia are subject to various restrictions and may face time in prison if they don’t comply.
Pugacheva and Galkin left Russia shortly after Putin invaded Ukraine in February, but the singer returned to the country last month. It’s not known whether she is currently in Russia.
