Russia’s MFA instructs diplomats to target Russian artists who oppose Putin's war

Bloomberg reports this with reference to two informed sources.

The people familiar with the matter said that Russian diplomats have been instructed to persecute Russian artists who support Ukraine and oppose Putin in countries "friendly" to Russia.

Bloomberg recalls the situation with the detention in Thailand of members of the Russian group Bi-2, who had previously opposed Russia's war in Ukraine. They were detained for violating immigration rules. Moscow tried to deport the musicians back to Russia, where, according to human rights activists, they would have faced arrest.

Four members of the group had Israeli citizenship, so the detainees were sent to Israel after diplomatic intervention.

Bloomberg writes that after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, about 1 million citizens left Russia.

• On January 24, media reported that Russia plans to seize the financial assets and property of residents who criticize the Russian army and the "special military operation.”