February 07, 2024

Bi-2 Members Released from Thai Detention


Bi-2 Members Released from Thai Detention
Members of Bi-2. Schekinov Alexey Victorovich, Wikimedia Commons. 

Seven musicians from the Russian-Belarisian alt rock group Bi-2 were detained on January 28 after a concert in Phuket, on charges that they had incorrectly filed visa and migration documents.

The musicians, who have taken a public anti-war stance since the beginning of Russia's War on Ukraine, subsequently refused to meet with the Russian Foreign Consul. Deportation back to Russia could mean prosecution for their anti-war statements. 

After a week in detention, group members were allowed to depart Thailand for Israel, where lead singer Yegor Bortnik resides. Israeli Foreign Minister Israeli Katz said his office intervened to get the musicians released. The Russian consul temporarily thwarted Israel's move, arguing that the members of the group did not have Israeli citizenship and should be handed over to Russian officials. On January 29, Human Rights Watch called upon the Thai government not to extradite any member of Bi-2 to Russia

The concerns were certainly valid. Before the musicians' release, State Duma member Andrei Lugovoy wrote on Telegram: "Let [Bi-2] get ready: soon they will be playing and singing on spoons and metal plates, tap dancing in front of their cellmates. Personally, I would watch it with great pleasure."

But, for now at least, Bi-2 seems to be safe in Israel.

You Might Also Like

Russia Reacts to Gaza War
  • October 16, 2023

Russia Reacts to Gaza War

400 Russians asked to be evacuated from Gaza as Israel ordered the evacuation of 1.1 million people.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

Bears in the Caviar
May 01, 2015

Bears in the Caviar

Bears in the Caviar is a hilarious and insightful memoir by a diplomat who was “present at the creation” of US-Soviet relations. Charles Thayer headed off to Russia in 1933, calculating that if he could just learn Russian and be on the spot when the US and USSR established relations, he could make himself indispensable and start a career in the foreign service. Remarkably, he pulled it of.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955