The ‘queen of Soviet pop music’ might be categorized as a foreign agent, making her an enemy of the Kremlin.
Alla Pugacheva, recognized over many years for hit ‘Million Scarlet Roses’ and film ‘The Woman who Sings’ has shown disgust with the situation. Ukraine war.
In 2022, she stated the war was burdening regular people and turning Russia into an outcast, and earlier this month, the 74-year-old mentioned that no normal person would return to Russia.
Now Russian ‘activist’ Vitaly Borodin has submitted an official request to acknowledge Pugacheva as a foreign agent.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had not heard any official statements about the issue and Pugacheva, believed to be in Cyprus, did not immediately comment.
Officially labeling her a ‘foreign agent’ needs approval from the Kremlin.
A Russian media outlet with close ties to the security services said an official announcement may be made on her 75th birthday on April 15.
Being classified as a ‘foreign agent’ is often the first indication of serious trouble from authorities in Russia – currently, there are 787 organizations and people listed as such.
The designation has negative Soviet-era meanings and its bearers have to prominently display it on all content they publish. They also face difficult financial and bureaucratic requirements.
For many opponents of President Vladimir Putin, though, the label is seen as a badge of honor – proof they stood up to a leader they portray as a dictator and claim has led Russia towards ruin.
Pugacheva came to the attention of Putin supporters for taking six days from Friday’s gun attack on Crocus City Hall to make a comment in public.
Pugacheva was also criticized for apologizing to a Tajik singer who wept over the ‘public torture’ of the Tajik suspects detained for the attack.
Pugacheva in 2022 even asked for the state to label her a foreign agent in solidarity with her husband, TV comedian Maxim Galkin, who was put on the list that year.
Pugacheva has previously been honored by both Putin and his predecessor Boris Yeltsin. When Mikhail Gorbachev died in 2022, she praised the last Soviet leader for allowing freedom and rejecting violence.
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