Publish at February 11 2026 Updated February 11 2026
During the Soviet era, the authorities kept a close eye on artists, especially musicians. Anyone performing songs considered provocative by the regime was blacklisted. This meant they were forbidden to play on the radio or perform on any stage in the whole of the USSR, at the risk of being arrested by the police. It was imagined that the dissolution of the USSR would lead to greater freedom and an end to these practices. But no.
Putin's regime has revived the blacklist. Songs and artists are banned from Russian soil. In fact, musicians often learn of this from the media, rather than from a formal notice as is the case elsewhere in Europe or North America.
The situation has become even more tense since the war with Ukraine in 2022. Artists who speak out against the conflict and its leaders are not welcome through conventional channels. However, this music is listened to. The Russian state has no control over listening platforms. It therefore serves as a valve for a public resentful of the autocratic power in place. For musicians, however, the situation remains complex, as the ban on concerts in Russia prevents them from making any significant income. What's more, even outside the country, many of them can run into trouble with public authorities who tend to favor the current Russian regime.
The reverse is also complicated. The ARTE report shows, among other things, a Ukrainian singer who prefers to express her emotions in Russian. This decision displeased the Ukrainians, who branded her a traitor and threatened her with death. Especially since she fled to Berlin at the start of the war, which was not well received.
Trying to be present artistically in this context was not easy for the young woman. In Bulgaria, a style of music banned during the communist regime still gets a bad press from the locals because it is associated with minority Turkish ethnic communities. Most Bulgarian record companies see it as backward-looking, while many find it unifying.
Running time: 32min21
Image: Andreas Glöckner from Pixabay
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