Russian Teen Musician Jailed for Third Time Over Anti-War Songs
London-UK, November 12, 2025
Russia Jails Teen Street Musician Diana Loginova Who Sang Anti-War Songs for Third Time
A St. Petersburg court has sentenced an 18-year-old street musician to a third consecutive jail term, in a case that human rights advocates have labelled a clear example of the Kremlin’s intensified crackdown on any expression of dissent against its military campaign.
The young musician, Diana Loginova, who performs under the stage name Naoko with her band Stoptime, was immediately re-arrested and sentenced to another 13 days in prison upon completing her previous sentence.
Her supposed “crime” was performing anti-war songs by exiled Russian artists in a public square, an act of courageous defiance that quickly went viral on social media and attracted thousands of supporters, but also the relentless attention of Russia’s wartime censorship apparatus.
Key Headlines
‘Jail Carousel’:
Loginova and her bandmate, guitarist Alexander Orlov, are now caught in what human rights groups call a “jail carousel,” where prosecutors file minor charges to maintain continuous custody.
The Songs:
Her performances included covers of songs by exiled and anti-Kremlin artists like Noize MC and Monetochka, some of which are now effectively banned in Russia.
Multiple Charges:
The repeated jailings are based on administrative misdemeanor charges, including “violating public order” and the more serious offense of “discrediting the Russian armed forces,” which has also led to fines.
Viral Solidarity:
Despite the risks, videos of Naoko’s performances and others showing young street musicians across Russia expressing solidarity with her have flooded social media platforms, highlighting the power of art as a form of protest.
Diana Loginova, a music student from St. Petersburg, has been in continuous detention since her initial arrest last month.
Along with her band’s guitarist, Alexander Orlov, she has been subjected to a series of back-to-back administrative sentences, a legal tactic known as the “jail carousel” designed to keep critics locked up without resorting to full criminal prosecution, which would require more substantial evidence and legal procedures.
The initial arrests followed a series of spontaneous street concerts in central St. Petersburg where Loginova performed cover versions of songs by artists who have openly criticised the Kremlin’s actions in Ukraine.
Among the tracks performed were those by rapper Noize MC and singer Monetochka, both of whom have left Russia and have been officially designated as “foreign agents” by the authorities.
The lyrics of these songs often contain subtle, yet clear, anti-war or anti-establishment sentiments, making their public performance a direct challenge to the state’s mandated narrative.
The charges used to justify the repeated detentions are varied. Initially, Loginova and her bandmates were charged with “organizing a mass gathering of people” and “violating public order.”
Following a brief 13-day sentence, she was immediately re-arrested and charged with “discrediting the Russian armed forces”—a serious administrative offense introduced after the February 2022 military offensive that carries heavy fines and the risk of eventual criminal prosecution.
In the latest ruling, both Loginova and Orlov were handed another 13 days in jail, ensuring their continued confinement.
The use of this aggressive legal strategy against a young artist has drawn international condemnation.
Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia stated that the repeated arrests are nothing more than punishment for their public performances, which have provided a “breath of fresh air” in a country stifled by repression.
He emphasized that the musician’s only “crime” is singing songs that dare to challenge the official state narrative.
Crucially, the government’s efforts to silence Loginova have had the unintended consequence of amplifying her message. Videos of her singing in St. Petersburg, often with crowds of young people joining in the lyrics, went viral rapidly, galvanizing support both inside and outside of Russia. Since her arrest, TikTok and other platforms have been flooded with support videos.
Moreover, other young street performers in cities hundreds of miles away, such as Perm, have begun to stage their own solidarity concerts, directly referencing Loginova and risking similar penalties themselves.
The case of Diana Loginova underscores the increasingly suffocating atmosphere of censorship in Russia, where creative expression is strictly policed and even covers of popular songs can lead to jail time.
It serves as a stark reminder of the risks taken by those who choose to defy the official line, but also the enduring, defiant power of music and youth to chip away at state-imposed silence.
