What does it mean to be born in a country without freedom of expression, the possibility to protest, where war is normalised, and where even a song performed in the street can be perceived as a threat? What can we do for young political prisoners in Russia?
This event explores the experience of a generation born under Vladimir Putin’s rule: a generation with no memory of a democratic Russia, nor of the Soviet Union. They have grown up in a political climate shaped by expanding censorship laws, the branding of artists and journalists as “foreign agents,” and the criminalisation of dissent.
About Naoko & Stoptime
In October 2025 members of the St. Petersburg street band Stoptime were detained after performing songs by exiled anti-war artists such as Noize MC and Monetochka. Their performances, including songs critical of war and Kremlin propaganda, led to a series of so-called “carousel arrests,” where the musicians were repeatedly re-arrested immediately after release. Alongside guitarist Alexander Orlov and drummer Vladislav Leontyev, Naoko (Diana Loginova) was detained three consecutive times in short-term detentions, charged with “organising a mass presence of citizens” and “discrediting” the Russian army. After weeks in custody and escalating pressure, Loginova and Orlov left Russia on 23 November 2025. Today, they continue to use music as a way to speak about freedom, fear, and resistance. Their case is not isolated. It reflects a broader pattern in which cultural expression is framed as extremism or public disorder.
Read more:
How teenager gave a street concert and was caught up in Russia’s repressive past – BBC