Russia puts Ukrainian Eurovision winner Jamala on wanted list

Russia has placed Ukrainian singer Jamala (Susana Jamaladinova), who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2016, on a federal wanted list, Russian state-funded RIA Novosti media outlet reported, citing the Russian Interior Ministry database.

The ministry database shows Jamala is being sought under a criminal code article but does not specify which one.

The singer has not yet publicly commented on being added to Russia’s wanted list.

According to the Russian publication Mediazona, Jamala was placed on the wanted list in mid-October 2023 for allegedly spreading “fakes” about the Russian military. In November, a Russian court issued a warrant for her arrest in absentia.

In 2016, Jamala won Eurovision representing Ukraine with the song “1944” about the Soviet deportation of Crimean Tatars. She has consistently condemned Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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