September 22, 2022

A Crime Against Passion


A Crime Against Passion
How long, how long until we can sing this song? Flickr, Vladimir Pustovit

On September 10, during a wedding in Crimea, the DJ played the song “Chervona Kalyna,” a song often used by Ukrainian nationalists. As a result, six of the wedding-goes were arrested or fined.

The song is most notable for its lyrics, which call for Ukraine to break free from the shackles of Moscow. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, the song has become an anthem for the resistance movement. But, as it has become a song in support of the resistance, Moscow has since labeled it a symbol of Nazism

For promoting such "Nazi Symbolism,” the owner of the wedding venue has been sentenced to 14 days in prison, the DJ and a dancer for 10, and the groom's mother for 5. Additionally, two others in attendance have been fined up to 50,000 rubles ($837).

Notably, prior to the wedding, the head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, had warned against “chanting pro-Ukrainian slogans” and “singing nationalist songs.”

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