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Lady Gaga comments on Russian visa threats
By Andy Malt | Published on Wednesday 7 August 2013
Lady Gaga has taken time off from worrying about a leaked (and quite poorly received) demo apparently taken from her new album ‘ARTPOP’ to comment on threats by Russian authorities to prosecute her and Madonna for performing without having the proper visas.
As previously reported, both Madonna and Gaga supposedly broke Russia’s increasingly controversial ‘gay propaganda’ laws during performances in the country last year, which make it illegal to ‘promote’ homosexuality to minors. Ever since, both performers have been pursued by one of the key writers and proponents of the law, Vitaly Milonov.
Last week is was reported that Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office was now investigating whether they had broken the terms of their visas, following a complaint from Milonov. According to the Russia Legal Information Agency, RAPSI, the office said in a statement: “The visas issued were of the basic cultural exchange sort, which does not grant their bearers the right to engage in any commercial activity”.
Commenting on this via her Facebook page, Gaga said: “Sending bravery to LGBTs in Russia. The rise in government abuse is archaic. Hosing teenagers with pepper spray? Beatings? Mother Russia? The Russian government is criminal. Oppression will be met with revolution. Russian LGBTs you are not alone. We will fight for your freedom. Why didn’t you arrest me when you had the chance, Russia? Because you didn’t want answer to the world?”
The relatively new ‘anti-gay’ laws in Russia are currently getting more attention in the run up to the next Winter Olympics, which is due to be held in the country. Milonov has already suggested that homosexual athletes and spectators could face arrest if they attend the event. Pressure is now being put on the International Olympic Committee and other world leaders to speak out against this, with over 300,000 people signing a petition to the IOC. This morning Stephen Fry also published an open letter on the subject to David Cameron, Sebastian Coe and the IOC.
