“Our support for Masha will be evidence that we can unite and find compassion in our hearts!”
— Chacha
In spring of 2023 frontman Alexander Ivanov and one of Russia’s oldest punk bands NAIVE were on a tour through Russia, celebrating their 35th anniversary. Then – after a denounciation made by United Russia deputy Lyubov Surova – the concerts were cancelled, except for one concert in Moscow.
On April 15th, Alexander “Chacha” Ivanov took the stage at a Moscow club wearing a shirt bearing the name of Masha Moskaleva. He spoke up – on behalf of the family Moskalyov – on behalf of Russia – on behalf of humanity. The crowd united with a loud request for peace, for ending the war. A moment of truth.
This turned out to be NAIVE’s last concert in Russia.
Days later, Ivanov left the country.
In a letter written on the road, he explains why showing public solidarity was so important to him.
Excerpt from his letter:
>> I also recognized that against all odds, not everything was lost for us, the Russian people! There, beside me, were several thousand people who shared my language, culture, and even subculture. Together, despite all restrictions and repression, they overcame their inner fear and expressed their clear and unequivocal opinion on this “special military operation.”
At that moment, I was overwhelmed with sadness that, throughout their existence, Russian authorities have consistently perceived grassroots organization of the masses as their main threat. For centuries, Russian authorities’ overriding concern has been to prevent people from uniting at any level, discredit or control any self-governed, public initiative that isn’t engineered by the state itself.
The Russian government has long worked to make the people feel alienated, and this process did not start recently or even 30 years ago. As I re-read Nikolai Gogol’s “The Government Inspector” with my daughter Aurora, I am reminded of this. Nothing else can explain the unparalleled level of alienation and “atomization” of Russian society (predominantly, the ethnic Russian part) that has been documented for decades in various sociological research. Due to mutual distrust and envy, Russians, even in our own lands, are the most alienated people of the world. <<
By the way – as a sample of a practice of denounciation – here is deputy Lyubov Surova with another posting, warning about anti-Russian artistic activities.
Still, it was not in vain that I drew the attention of law enforcement agencies to the “Chinese Pilot Zhao Da” club.
They are again organizing a performance by an anti-Russian artist – a certain Loqimeana (a certain Roman Khudyakov, operating under this pseudonym). And guess what? He is also known for anti-Russian statements in connection with the SVO. Apparently, the club’s management fundamentally provides a platform for artists with an anti-Russian position ideologically close to them.
And not only my voters, but also voters of other deputies, including at the regional level, are already contacting me about this. Because their elected representatives do not want to get involved with such problems – the political risks are great, there is a lot of hate, but there are no benefits. And the image of an “oaky patriot-guardian” is being formed, who has only one thing in his head – “grab him and don’t let him go.”
Well… I didn’t come into politics for an image and not for a great political career. And again I will have to raise these questions at all levels and answer the caustic questions of journalists. Because I cannot watch indifferently as my city turns into an anti-Russian den.