Friends, I need your help.  An alarming situation is currently developing in Thailand.  Members of the anti-war rock band Bi-2 (including my dear friend and Iamthemorning bandmate Gleb  Kolyadin) have been arrested and incarcerated.  The arrests took place after the band played a concert in Phuket on January 24th.  

The arrests were orchestrated by the Russian government and personally overseen by the Russian Consul in Thailand, Vladimir Sosnov, due to the views which the band have previously expressed criticising the Ukraine war and President Putin.

According to our information, a small number of the band were granted deportation to Israel (as they were Israeli passport holders).  Flight tickets were purchased on this basis.  However, today (January 30th), high-ranking officials from the Russian Embassy have forced the Thai government to revoke that decision and deportation to Israel has been cancelled.

Thus the group remain detained and are currently being held in a shared cell with 80 other people.  The “cell” is a metal cage situated in open sun, exposing them to temperatures in excess of 35 degrees.  We are obviously extremely worried about their mental and physical well-being.

The prospect of deportation to Russia poses a significant threat to these artists, who have been vocal about their anti-war stance.  In Russia, such views often lead to persecution, lengthy imprisonment and, at worst, the “disappearing” of individuals.

We strongly urge international communities and human rights organisations worldwide to put pressure on the Thai government. We request that they do not deport members of Bi-2 back to Russia but instead allow them to return safely to their country of residency.  For Gleb, this is of course, the United Kingdom.

I implore you to sign this petition and help us protect our fellow musicians from potential harm.  Freedom to express one’s views without threat of persecution is a fundamental human right.  Your signature will make a difference in ensuring these artists’ safety and freedom.  

Let’s bring them home.

The links to the press writing about it:

 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-68137594

https://www.reuters.com/world/dissident-russian-rock-band-faces-deportation-thailand-2024-01-29

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/01/29/rock-band-russia-thailand-deported

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-28/warning-to-exiled-putin-critics-as-rockers-face-deportation-home

https://www.loudersound.com/news/gelb-kolyadin-facing-deportation-back-to-russia