‘You’re Afraid of Poems and Love’: Singer Monetochka Pens Verse in Support of Jailed St. Petersburg Street Musicians
VALENCIA, Spain – Exiled Russian pop artist Monetochka recited an original poem Sunday in Valencia, Spain, condemning the recent jailing of three members of the St. Petersburg street music group Stoptime. The musicians were sentenced on Thursday to 12-13 days of administrative detention for allegedly obstructing pedestrian access near a metro station during a performance. The case has drawn attention to increasing restrictions on artistic expression in Russia and sparked a surge in online support for the band.
Monetochka, whose real name is Yelizaveta Gyrdymova, has lived abroad since 2022 and was previously designated a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities in 2023, facing charges related to non-compliance with the requirements of that designation. Her poem, shared via social media by the liberal opposition TV channel Dozhd, directly addresses the perceived fear of artistic expression within the Russian government.The opening lines read: “You put on such an angry face, / But you’re afraid of guitars and singers. / Ink,canvases,watercolors scare you,/ And anyone who’s even a little braver. / You’re so afraid that it’s easier for me / To tell you what you’re not afraid of.”
The arrest of Stoptime followed the viral spread of a video showing the band performing a song referencing both the Ozero dacha cooperative – linked to associates of President Vladimir Putin – and the Swan Lake ballet, historically associated with periods of political transition and leadership changes in the Soviet Union. Lead singer Diana Loginova, performing as Naoko, also faces a charge of “discrediting” the Russian military, a misdemeanor offense punishable by a fine and perhaps leading to criminal prosecution upon repeat offense.
Monetochka continued her condemnation, stating the authorities are “afraid of our burning hearts because they melt steel and lead,” and asserting that “like birds, our songs fly to those who are kind, brave and honest.” Since their arrest, Stoptime’s Telegram channel has seen a dramatic increase in followers, growing from hundreds to nearly 45,000. The band has announced the suspension of all future performances. Monetochka initially expressed her pain over the arrest last week, according to reporting by TV Rain.
