In a wood on the edge of St Petersburg, they’re reading out a list of names, each a victim of Stalin’s Great Terror. On Russia’s annual Remembrance Day for Victims of Political Repression, tens of thousands of lives are honored, but the ghosts of the past loom large over the present. Today, Russian authorities are increasingly silent about Stalin's crimes, framing him as a wartime hero instead. Recent laws designed to silence dissent echo a history fraught with repression, as critics of the Kremlin face serious repercussions.
Eighteen-year-old Diana Loginova, a music student known as Naoko, faces charges after her improvised street concert obstructed pedestrian access, according to local police. She has already spent 13 days in jail and is now being charged with discrediting the Russian armed forces due to her performances of songs by foreign agents critical of the government. Her case catalyzes broader concerns about the risks young artists face in a country rife with censorship and fear.
Despite the dangers, Diana’s voice—along with her band's performances of works by exiled Russian musicians—resonates with the youth of St Petersburg, who find solace and expression in music. This underground movement is a defiant stand against a regime that increasingly suppresses public opinion.
As supporters gather outside courthouses, young musicians continue their protests. Interestingly, amidst this crackdown, some like 84-year-old Ludmila Vasilyeva, who survived the Nazi invasion, refuse to stay silent against the ever-growing authoritarianism. Yet a nation divided remains, struggling under a climate where fear and compliance may overshadow the yearning for freedom and truth.
Eighteen-year-old Diana Loginova, a music student known as Naoko, faces charges after her improvised street concert obstructed pedestrian access, according to local police. She has already spent 13 days in jail and is now being charged with discrediting the Russian armed forces due to her performances of songs by foreign agents critical of the government. Her case catalyzes broader concerns about the risks young artists face in a country rife with censorship and fear.
Despite the dangers, Diana’s voice—along with her band's performances of works by exiled Russian musicians—resonates with the youth of St Petersburg, who find solace and expression in music. This underground movement is a defiant stand against a regime that increasingly suppresses public opinion.
As supporters gather outside courthouses, young musicians continue their protests. Interestingly, amidst this crackdown, some like 84-year-old Ludmila Vasilyeva, who survived the Nazi invasion, refuse to stay silent against the ever-growing authoritarianism. Yet a nation divided remains, struggling under a climate where fear and compliance may overshadow the yearning for freedom and truth.
