Incident came after rapper’s show in Krasnodar was banned by authorities for ‘extremism’

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

A popular Russian rapper has been sentenced to 12 days in jail on charges of hooliganism after he performed on top of a car.

Husky, known for his songs mocking the authorities and about police brutality, was due to perform in the southern city of Krasnodar on Wednesday night when local prosecutors warned the venue that his act had elements of what they termed “extremism”.

Wednesday’s gig was moved to another club, where the power was shut off and the 25-year-old’s fans poured outside. Videos posted online showed the rapper, whose real name is Dmitry Kuznetsov, reading his verses on top of a car as fans chanted in unison.

Police officers let him finish the song and then detained him, but had trouble driving away as crowds blocked their vehicle, demanding his release. Police eventually persuaded them to disperse.

Local police also said that the owner of the car on which Husky performed filed a complaint for property damage, a charge that may carry a longer prison term. It was not immediately clear if authorities were going to press those charges.

The rapper told the court in Krasnodar that he was forced to perform on the street because his concert had been cancelled without explanation. He said he was willing to pay compensation for any damage to the vehicle.

“I acted in such a way because I faced a situation when I felt an obligation to talk to the people who had bought tickets,” he told the court.

Husky’s black-and-white videos mock a political regime that expects tacit compliance from its citizens. A new wave of Russian rap musicians is widely credited for channeling young Russians’ frustration with the political system and lack of economic prospects.

Authorities in other Russian regions have also moved to ban Husky’s gigs. He said in a social media post last month that officials in several Russian cities were pressuring venues to shut down his shows because his songs allegedly offended Christians and promoted promiscuity.