A large crowd has gathered in St Petersburg to sing a banned anti-war song calling for Vladimir Putin to resign. Hundreds of young people joined street musicians in a city square, chanting lyrics from a track by pro-Ukrainian rapper Noize MC, which has been branded “extremist” under Russian censorship laws.
The song, titled Co-operative Swan Lake, features the lines: “Where have you been for eight years, you f****** monsters? I want to watch ballet, let the swans dance,” and “Let your grandpa tremble with excitement for Swan Lake.” The ballet reference recalls the Soviet era, when state television would broadcast Swan Lake during major political upheavals, such as changes in Communist Party leadership.
Noize MC, whose real name is Ivan Alekseev, released the track shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He has since been designated a “foreign agent” by the Kremlin, a label applied to those who speak out against the war. The song is banned in the Russian Federation but has become an unofficial anthem for young Russians opposed to the conflict.
Open displays of dissent in Russian cities are rare, with previous protests forcibly dispersed. Video of the St Petersburg demonstration has been widely shared on social media, drawing praise from Ukraine supporters and condemnation from pro-Kremlin channels. Several prominent Putin backers have called for those involved to be punished.
According to Russian news outlets, police in St Petersburg have detained a street performer believed to have organised the gathering. Prosecutors reportedly stated that the performance fostered “a negative attitude toward government representatives, in particular, toward the President of Russia and his supporters.” Under Russia’s wartime censorship laws, those found guilty of disseminating extremist material can face heavy fines or imprisonment.
