Russian MP calls for revoking singer Meladze’s Russian citizenship

Yelena Afanasyeva, a Russian lawmaker, has called for the revocation of citizenship to Valeri Meladze, a Georgian singer who left Russia shortly after the latter’s invasion of Ukraine in protest after living and working there for decades. 

Calling him a “traitor”, the MP stressed the singer was expressing support for Ukraine, while Russian troops were “sacrificing their lives in defence” of their country’s territories. 

She also said if Meladze were an “honest man”, he would have applied for revoking his citizenship status himself, noting the former was “adapted to earning serious money” in Russia. 

A footage allegedly recorded in Bubai was released on social media on Monday, in which Meladze responds to someone saying “glory to Ukraine ”, by saying – “glory to heroes”.