State media has revealed that Russia has included Ukrainian Eurovision Song Contest winner Jamala on its wanted list.
It is common for the Kremlin to make such accusations against individuals who provide information that contradicts its official narrative regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Susana Jamaladinova, the singer popularly known as Jamala, has reportedly been accused of spreading false information about the Russian armed forces.
Known for her outspokenness, Jamala has been openly critical of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
According to the independent Russian human rights website Mediazona, she was added to the wanted list last month, and the details of the listing only came to light on Monday.
Russian breaking news Telegram channel Shot alleged that Jamala was added to the list for disseminating “fakes” about the atrocities in the Ukrainian town of Bucha in 2022.
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The Kremlin has distanced itself from the massacre that occurred in the Kyiv suburb while Russian troops were present, despite evidence suggesting Russian forces’ involvement.
After Russia’s invasion in February of last year, the 40-year-old and her family fled Ukraine to safety. Jamala secured the Eurovision win in 2016 with her song “1944,” which was a poignant reflection on the forced deportation of her fellow Crimean Tatars by Russia during that year.
The song stirred up controversy due to allegations that its lyrics breached the competition’s prohibition of overtly political songs.
Despite this, the organizers allowed its performance, and it went on to defy the odds by narrowly defeating Russia to win the title.
Many perceived the song as delivering a distinct message regarding Russia’s illicit annexation of the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.
In a recent interview with the BBC, Jamala spoke about the launch of her new folk album, Qirim, expressing that it was her way “to give strong voice to my homeland, to Crimea”.
‘The centuries of the Russian Empire, then Soviet Union, now Russia – they did a lot of propaganda to shut us up. Then they told the whole world we did not exist.’
‘But we know the truth. I know the truth. And so that’s why for me, it’s really important to show this truth through the stories behind each of the songs in this album.’