Prominent Russian Punk-Rocker Defects To U.S. Over Jehovah's Witnesses Ban

[Guest Kurt]

Russian musician Fyodor Chistyakov (file photo)

Prominent Russian punk-rocker Fyodor Chistyakov says he has decided not to return from the United States, citing Russia's new ban on the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

A member of the religous denomination since the mid-1990s, Chistyakov told Novaya Gazeta in a telephone interview from New York published on July 31 that he "has no other choice" than to stay in the United States.

"I cannot openly follow my religion [in Russia] now. And that is a trauma itself even when I am not in jail, although incarcerations are taking place already," he was quoted as saying.

Chistyakov, who is known as Dyadya Fyodor (Uncle Fyodor) and has led the groups Nol (Zero) and the Fyodor Chistyakov Band, has been on tour in the United States for several months.

The Russian Supreme Court ruled in April that the Jehovah's Witnesses were an extremist organization and prohibited them from operating in Russia. The court upheld the ruling on appeal in July.

Freedom of religion is formally guaranteed in Russia but legislation sets out Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and Buddhism as the country's four traditional religions, and smaller denominations frequently face discrimination.

In recent years, there have been a growing number of reports of worshippers at Jehovah's Witnesses congregations being targeted for harassment.

A 2009 documentary called Beware: Jehovah’s Witnesses branded Chistyakov "a brainwashed sectarian."

Nol was popular in the Soviet Union, and then in its former republics, in the late 1980s and the 1990s.

With reporting by Novaya Gazeta<<<click

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[Guest Kurt]

The frontman of the group “Zero” Fedor Chistyakov left Russia because of religion

Famous rock musician explained his actions by disagreeing with the ban of “Jehovah’s Witnesses”. As a member of the organization, which was declared extremist, Fedor Chistyakov decided that moving abroad is the best way out of the situation. 

49-year-old leader of the group “Zero” Fedor Chistyakov, who is now in new York, told reporters that no plans to return to Russia. The decision of the musician is connected with the prohibition of the Supreme court that recognized “Jehovah’s Witnesses” extremist organization and banning its activities on the entire territory of the country.

According to Chistyakov, he disagrees with the decision of the highest judicial body of the Russian Federation, which became for the actor a shock. Being a member of a religious organization, the man decided that the best solution was moving to another country.

“I wasn’t going to emigrate. There are people who spend years trying to obtain a green card or some other way to get to America. And I have never had such thoughts or possibilities. I firmly settled on the spot, I am already fifty, where to go? (…) And so we flew with the tour in the United States. On the eve of trial, which resulted in the prohibition of “Witnesses”. For me it was a shock. The probability that I get back from the American tour, started strongly increase. And on July 17, when they rejected the appeal, I made the final decision”, – said the musician.

Rocker said he intends to continue to study music in another country. According to the man, to stay in Russia means exposing their activities the danger.

 

“I invest in the project own money invested, my colleagues and investors. I take a very serious commitment,” explains Chistyakov.

During the meeting with journalists the actor stressed that his move is a necessary measure aimed at the fact that he “has not disappeared as a creative unit”. Therefore, Chistyakov will continue to work abroad. “The only change is the place of my physical, nothing more not change”, – assured the correspondent is a man.

The most immediate plans of rock performance in Moscow in November and recording the new album. In addition, Chistyakov going to do an American project. To sing in English a man is not going to – thinks you can’t. The frontman of the group “Zero” also reported that on-former intends to focus on Russian-speaking audience. “I remain the same person you were, I still care about things that happen in Russia”, – quotes Chistyakov, “Nezavisimaya Gazeta”.

Recall that Fedor Chistyakov – composer, accordionist, songwriter and guitarist. In the fall of 1985, a man together with drummer Alexei Nikolayev, Anatoly Platonov founded the group “Zero”, which lasted about seven years. After some time, an attempt was made to revive the iconic team, but it was not successful. In 2017 Chistyakov said that once again revives his creation. Partner of musician Alexey Nikolaev became the.

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[Guest Kurt]

Read one of recent interviews with F. Chistyakov where he mentions music, faith, ROC, etc. via G.Translate<<<click

Fyodor Chistyakov's official YouTube channel: here <<<click