Russian pop star Monetochka sentenced in absentia to one year in prison for violating ‘foreign agent’ rules
A Moscow magistrate sentenced singer Elizaveta Gyrdymova, known as Monetochka, in absentia to one year in a penal colony for failing to comply with foreign agent obligations.
According to the independent Russian outlet Mediazona, a Moscow magistrate has sentenced singer Elizaveta Gyrdymova (stage name Monetochka) in absentia to one year in a penal colony for evading the duties of a “foreign agent.” The court also banned Gyrdymova from managing websites for three years.
The case was heard in a single day. Prosecutors had sought a sentence of one year and 10 months. Russia’s Justice Ministry designated Gyrdymova a “foreign agent” in January 2023. In June and August of that year, the Basmanny District Court of Moscow imposed two fines of 30,000 rubles each for posts published without the required foreign agent disclaimer.
The case against Gyrdymova was triggered by the absence of a foreign agent disclaimer on her Instagram posts. Shortly afterward, she was placed on Russia’s wanted list and arrested in absentia.
