Russian-sanctioned rock band arrested in Phuket and face deportation to Russia

[snoop1130]

 

The Russian-sanctioned rock band Bi-2, which includes four Israeli citizens was arrested in Phuket last Thursday for performing without appropriate permits, Israeli media reported. The members of the band were all fined, had their passports confiscated, and were taken to a detention center.

 

There is a possibility that the band could be deported to Russia, where they face imprisonment over their opposition to the war on Ukraine.

 

Among the seven band members arrested are Yegor Burtnik and Alexander Uman, Israeli citizens. The band allegedly has two other Israeli citizens, but reports haven’t confirmed these members’ identities. The band has a history of legal trouble with the Russian Government, according the Jerusalem Post.

 

The band has a history of trouble for speaking out against the Russian government, including cancellation of shows, and Burtnik has even been listed as a “foreign agent” by the Russian Justice Ministry.

 

Even more alarming, neither Yegor nor Alexander have Russian citizenship, which would make an arrest very complicated for the Israeli foreign ministry to navigate.

 

According to news reports, the decision to deport the band or not will be made today.

 

Source: Thai PBS 2024-01-29

 

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[Pouatchee]

thailand the hub of deportation of people to authoritarian countries so they can face prosecution, torture and possibly be disappeared.

 

wasnt it the german president who was congratulating thailand on its democratic improvements?

 

oh... and does thailand accept any refugees?

[still kicking]

4 minutes ago, Pouatchee said:

thailand the hub of deportation of people to authoritarian countries so they can face prosecution, torture and possibly be disappeared.

 

wasnt it the german president who was congratulating thailand on its democratic improvements?

 

oh... and does thailand accept any refugees?

You know what the answer is do you?

[NoDisplayName]

Why deport them?

 

Surely they could simply have Russian agents come here and subject the baddies to enhanced interrogation techniques.

 

As long as they promise not to waterboard them repeatedly, then send them to Guantanamo for decades without trial.

 

 

[zhounan]

Ops, they probably don't know that the band is very popular between russophones.

 

It's not the best move for Thailand Tourism Marketing Machine 

[Jenkins9039]

1 hour ago, snoop1130 said:

 

The Russian-sanctioned rock band Bi-2, which includes four Israeli citizens was arrested in Phuket last Thursday for performing without appropriate permits, Israeli media reported. The members of the band were all fined, had their passports confiscated, and were taken to a detention center.

 

There is a possibility that the band could be deported to Russia, where they face imprisonment over their opposition to the war on Ukraine.

 

Among the seven band members arrested are Yegor Burtnik and Alexander Uman, Israeli citizens. The band allegedly has two other Israeli citizens, but reports haven’t confirmed these members’ identities. The band has a history of legal trouble with the Russian Government, according the Jerusalem Post.

 

Full story: Thai PBS 2024-01-29

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

Always see old farts playing music in bars.

 

They can be deported for such now?

[bokningar]

56 minutes ago, Jenkins9039 said:

Always see old farts playing music in bars.

 

They can be deported for such now?

Only if they are against Putin killing civilians in Ukraine.

[stevenl]

Isn't deportation a standard punishment for working illegally?

[Jingthing]

10 years in prison.

99 percent conviction rate.

 

[Jingthing]

Coincidentally famous exiled Russian youtuber NFKRZ just covered this issue and Thailand is specifically mentioned as a country that such Russians are not safe from deportation.

I wonder if they would have a chance appealing to the UN.

 

 

[HauptmannUK]

Thailand acting on behalf of Putin?

[Jingthing]

Just now, HauptmannUK said:

Thailand acting on behalf of Putin?

Are you surprised?

[Iron Tongue]

How would Israeli citizens get deported to Russia?  And for a work-visa violation?

Could they be dual nationals?  Does Russia have an international warrant out for them?  An Interpol Red notice?

Typical lazy reporting.  The reader ends up asking more questions than receives information.

 

[Jingthing]

39 minutes ago, Iron Tongue said:

How would Israeli citizens get deported to Russia?  And for a work-visa violation?

Could they be dual nationals?  Does Russia have an international warrant out for them?  An Interpol Red notice?

Typical lazy reporting.  The reader ends up asking more questions than receives information.

 

Yes both countries allow dual.

I assume they all entered on Russian passports so I reckon its standard to depor6 to Russia in such cases. But maybe the dual guys have a chance to avoid that. 

[Alainpm]

they seem good guys, just saw some of their videos; leave them alone, they did nothing wrong, thai gov you are making this world worse than it already is 

[hotchilli]

11 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Russian-sanctioned rock band Bi-2, which includes four Israeli citizens was arrested in Phuket last Thursday for performing without appropriate permits,

So what's happening to the Thai promoters?

[Smokin Joe]

The OP doesn't say that any of the band members are Russian. It just says that two are Israeli and that allegedly two more are Israeli as well.

Wikipedia says that the band is Belarusian.

[Zack61]

8 hours ago, stevenl said:

Isn't deportation a standard punishment for working illegally?

Not if they are going to be accidentally pushed off a balcony on the 30th floor of a Moscow high rise. 
This Thai government has no concern about human rights and would be a classic case of kowtowing to Poo Tin. 

[nobodysfriend]

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The band has a history of trouble for speaking out against the Russian government, including cancellation of shows, and Burtnik has even been listed as a “foreign agent” by the Russian Justice Ministry.

 

In this case , a reward would be better ...

Just a small fine would be enough as there was no damage done .

[nobodysfriend]

12 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

wasnt it the german president who was congratulating thailand on its democratic improvements?

 

Yes , but by profession , politicians are liars .

What they call 'diplomacy ' is often nothing but bending and masking the truth ...

[CartagenaWarlock]

1 hour ago, Iron Tongue said:

How would Israeli citizens get deported to Russia?  And for a work-visa violation?

Could they be dual nationals?  Does Russia have an international warrant out for them?  An Interpol Red notice?

Typical lazy reporting.  The reader ends up asking more questions than receives information.

Can they be deported to a country except the country passport they used to enter Thailand? Should not the Israeli government at least lodge a diplomatic protest? If not, the reporting is fishy, and don't believe an iota of this information except that they did work illegally in a venue without a license. 

[mikeymike100]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

So what's happening to the Thai promoters?

Well I will go out on a limb and say probably nothing!

[Ironmike]

So let me get this straight a Rock band getting deported for speaking the truth but still nothing happening with that drunk Russian woman Ireana Pavalova that ran over and killed two kids in full view of cctv cameras????? Check out the video and tell me which is more news worthy. 

[Taboo2]

Wow, I feel bad for these guys,....they are seriously EFFED!

[ChipButty]

14 minutes ago, Ironmike said:

So let me get this straight a Rock band getting deported for speaking the truth but still nothing happening with that drunk Russian woman Ireana Pavalova that ran over and killed two kids in full view of cctv cameras????? Check out the video and tell me which is more news worthy. 

Why dont you go down to her office in Rawai and ask her, 

[2baht]

Do they do a cover of the Beatles "Back in the USSR"?

[ChipButty]

20 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

Can they be deported to a country except the country passport they used to enter Thailand? Should not the Israeli government at least lodge a diplomatic protest? If not, the reporting is fishy, and don't believe an iota of this information except that they did work illegally in a venue without a license. 

My understanding they can only be sent back the the country of origin, but if they are being kept in the IDC in Bangkok they dont have to buy a ticket to leave Im told people have been in there for years, If they have Israeli passports the Israeli government will get them home. 

[ThaiFelix]

13 hours ago, Pouatchee said:

oh... and does thailand accept any refugees?

Yes from the us, Uk, Australia, lots of places so long as you have the money and can fill in lots of useless forms.

[ThaiFelix]

1 hour ago, 2baht said:

Do they do a cover of the Beatles "Back in the USSR"?

Dont know but imagine they will soon.................

[Hakuna Matata]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

My understanding they can only be sent back the the country of origin, but if they are being kept in the IDC in Bangkok they dont have to buy a ticket to leave Im told people have been in there for years, If they have Israeli passports the Israeli government will get them home. 

 

Probably they don't want to go to Israel either. It is not safe there now.