Alla Pugacheva: 'Russian Dolly Parton' slams Putin over war, asks to be declared a 'foreign agent'
MOSCOW, RUSSIA: One of Russia's most well-known singers, who has been in demand since the Soviet era, spoke against the war in Ukraine and claimed that Vladimir Putin was pointlessly sending young men to die there. Alla Pugacheva, a Russian icon, and pop star said that she wanted to join her husband on the list of the nation's foreign agents through an Instagram post, taking a jab at the Russian government. This is the first time the pop star has publicly criticized the conflict.
Her husband Maxim Galkin was called a "foreign agent" recently for opposing the war, joining journalists, human rights advocates, and Kremlin critics. Pugacheva wrote on Sunday, September 18, "The death of our guys for illusory goals make our country an outcast and weigh down the lives of our citizens."
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Pugacheva wrote to her 3.4 million Instagram followers while addressing the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, "I am asking you to enroll me in the ranks of foreign agents of my beloved country." She justified her point by explaining "because I am in solidarity with my husband who is an honest, decent, sincere man and a real and incorruptible patriot of Russia, wishing prosperity to the Motherland." She further said that her husband wanted a "peaceful life, freedom of speech and an end to the death of our guys for illusory goals that make our country an outcast and weigh down the lives of our citizens."
Viv Groskop, a British comedian and journalist, referred to Pugacehva as the "Russian Dolly Parton," emphasizing her star power and famed reputation in the nation. According to The Daily Telegraph, Alla Pugacheva "is as close to universally loved national royalty as it gets" in Russia.
Russian authorities have cracked down on criticism of the conflict in Ukraine, fining and imprisoning dissidents. Numerous Russian performers who condemned the conflict had their performances canceled. Despite having several meetings with Vladimir Putin, Pugacheva has never endorsed him in the media, The Guardian reported.
When the war started, Pugacheva and her husband left the nation.
Although it's unclear if she's still there, she was spotted in Moscow on September 3 at Mikhail Gorbachev's funeral.
The pop singer, who is 73 years old, is well known for her vibrant performances and emotive singing. She first gained notoriety in the 1970s and continues to enjoy great popularity in the former Soviet Union. Pugacheva quickly rose to prominence as the most well-known singer in the Soviet Union, selling more than 250 million units overall and amassing a record collection of more than 100 records, CDs, and DVDs.