The office of Russia's prosecutor general has issued a statement confirming that neither singer obtained an appropriate visa prior to performing there last year. Madonna, who played in August 2012, and Gaga, who appeared in December, travelled under cultural-exchange visas. These documents "do not grant their bearers the right to engage in any commercial activity," authorities said. According to the Russian legal information agency, prosecutors are now considering asking Russia's foreign ministry or federal migration service to press charges.
As any foreigner who has visited Moscow will know, Russian immigration can be extremely complicated. But Gaga and Madonna's mistakes weren't just discovered by accident: prosecutors launched their investigation only after being contacted by one of the singers' most outspoken enemies.
The man in question was Vitaly Milonov, who serves in St Petersburg's municipal legislature and authored St Petersburg's law banning gay "propaganda" – a model for recent legislation passed by the Duma. AfterGaga and Madonna spoke in support of LGBT issues at their 2012 concerts, Milonov tried to pursue them in court for "promoting sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality and transgenderism among minors". These claims were unsuccessful...
The Guardian.
Another outrage by the evil Russkies!
I will be protesting this tomorrow by not performing as Yuri The Clown in the Moscow State Circus.
NB Previous attempts to prosecute Madonna in Russia have garnered much publicity - surely their real purpose - then quietly fizzled out.
Update: Lady Gaga has been tweeting her support for gay people in Russia.
You're in big trouble now Putin!
NB Previous attempts to prosecute Madonna in Russia have garnered much publicity - surely their real purpose - then quietly fizzled out.
Update: Lady Gaga has been tweeting her support for gay people in Russia.
You're in big trouble now Putin!
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