St. Petersburg police detained 18-year-old singer Diana Loginova and guitarist Alexander Orlov for a third time in a month, media outlets reported on Monday, coming immediately after the two musicians completed their latest jail sentences.
The cycle of arrests began in mid-October when their band Stoptime went viral for performing songs by anti-war musicians during street concerts in St. Petersburg.
Orlov and Loginova had just finished back-to-back 13-day administrative arrests for organizing an unsanctioned gathering when they were detained again on Sunday night and Monday morning, respectively, according to the local news outlet Bumaga.
The two musicians, who announced their engagement in between court proceedings late last month, were reportedly taken to the same police station.
Stoptime drummer Vladislav Leontyev was released around midnight after serving his second administrative sentence.
St. Petersburg news outlet Fontanka, citing anonymous sources, reported that Loginova and Orlov face fresh charges of organizing an unsanctioned gathering.
Bumaga also reported that Loginova faces a third administrative charge of “discrediting” the Russian military. The latest accusations are reportedly tied to her performance of a banned song in central St. Petersburg last month that investigators claimed “negatively” portrayed Russian President Vladimir Putin and state authorities.
A court late last month fined Loginova 30,000 rubles ($375) for discrediting the Russian military for performing an anti-war song by another exiled musician. A judge returned a second charge on the same offense to the police, citing a lack of sufficient detail.
Loginova has denied any wrongdoing.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
