Once she was released from prison, Diana Loguinova left Russia. The 18-year-old music student, known by her stage name Naoko, was arrested in October and consecutively sentenced to three short prison terms for performing pacifist songs and music by artists deemed undesirable by Russian authorities on the streets of Saint Petersburg. A source close to the matter told AFP that the young woman had left Russian territory, confirming Russian media reports claiming that she had left prison and left the country immediately.
The video of his performance with his group “StopTime” on the streets of Saint Petersburg has gone viral on social networks, earning the young musicians the wrath of the authorities in the context of the repression of any criticism of the conflict in Ukraine.
Diana Loguinova found herself drawn to the country’s so-called human rights defenders “carousel”, when defendants faced minor charges and short-term prison sentences that saw them continually returned to custody, a practice intended to frighten and discourage activists.
He was later jailed consecutively “disrupt public order”, “discredit” Russian army and for having organized a “mass gathering” without permission. Some of his supporters fear he will be detained and the prosecution will build a stronger case against him.
The arrest of the group’s members created a wave of solidarity on TikTok and among Russian street musicians, who have also been caught in the trap of repression. Thousands of people have been arrested as part of a crackdown on critics of Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, and some received long prison sentences.
