Thread by @baunov

THREAD 1/10 Alla #Pugacheva, Russia’s biggest pop star for many generations, has spoken out against Putin’s war in Ukraine. She also spoke in defense of her husband, the comedian & actor Maxim Galkin, who was labeled a foreign agent on Friday after previously condemning the war.

2/10 Pugacheva and Galkin left Russia soon after its invasion of Ukraine. Galkin, an immensely popular TV star and household name, was instantly critical of the war, but Pugacheva, who is considerably older than her husband, was less vocal, though their departure spoke volumes.

3/10 Her return to Russia a few days ago prompted speculations that she had come back to salvage her property & high position within the Russian elite. Instead, a few days after her return, Pugacheva wrote a short but very harsh Instagram post about the “special operation.”

4/10 The post, which contravenes several newly introduced and unlawful pieces of legislation that Russia has introduced since the start of the war, can be seen here: 
instagram.com/p/CipbuA9qzIe/…

5/10 Pugacheva’s popularity is absolutely extraordinary, comparable perhaps with that of Edith Piaf in France, only a couple of decades later. Boris Yeltsin, when decorating her with a state order, said that he would be remembered a Pugacheva-era president.

6/10 From the mid-70s & for 30 years or even more, she was the unchallenged queen of pop for all Russians & citizens of former Soviet republics. She has had dozens of hits, is never far from the Russian tabloids, & no New Year party was complete without at least one of her songs.

7/10 From the very beginning, her attitude challenged the official ways of the stuffy Soviet music scene, known as estrada. She was far more sincere, flamboyant, and of course talented. Now she is openly against the war, xenophobia, & the absurd foreign agent laws.

8/10 It’s another blow—& maybe the strongest yet—against the official Russian narrative that ordinary Russians support the war, & only a few Westernized & unpatriotic intellectuals oppose it. But no one represents ordinary Russian people better than Alla Pugacheva & Maxim Galkin.

9/10 The reaction of Russian officials is predictable: “The people are with us, and those who are not with us are against the people.” It’s classic fraudulent propaganda that won’t convince everybody.

10/10 Now it’s not just Ukraine that has a comedian/actor of major political importance. Russia has one too, plus a music legend with a following of multiple generations of Russians to boot.