Russian Metal Fans May Face Prison as Putin Bans 'Satanists'

The New Law and Its Implications

Russian heavy metal and goth music fans may now find themselves at risk of facing legal consequences due to a recent law that has been enacted by the Kremlin. This new regulation has effectively outlawed what is referred to as the "international satanism movement," labeling it as an extremist and terrorist group, even though no such organization exists. The Russian Supreme Court's decision means that anyone accused of being part of this group could face up to eight years in prison.

This ruling comes after a series of appeals from various officials, including members of parliament and the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church. These individuals have expressed concerns about the influence of satanic ideologies on Russian society.

Concerns from Political and Religious Leaders

Andre Kartapolov, a senior member of the Russian Parliament's defense committee, warned that satanism poses a direct threat to Russian statehood, claiming it is funded by Western countries. Another pro-Putin MP reported receiving complaints from citizens about the increasing number of "satanic sex orgies" in Moscow and other cities across the country.

In January, Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, supported calls to ban satanism, stating that it is an "ideology that destroys our national identity and weakens our people." He also mentioned that Russian soldiers in Ukraine are fighting for values that are directly opposed to Satanic beliefs.

Putin’s Stance and Contradictions

Putin has previously described the conflict with Ukraine and the West as a fight against the "outright satanism" of same-sex marriages and other LGBT rights. However, there have been instances where the government has shown leniency. For example, a man involved in a ritual killing was released from prison after serving time in Ukraine.

Vile Nikolai Ogolobyak and his accomplices were responsible for the deaths of four teenage girls, during which they fried and ate their tongues and hearts. One victim was stabbed 666 times as a sacrifice to the devil. Ogolobyak had been sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2010 but was pardoned by Putin after serving six months on the front line in Ukraine.

Impact on Music Fans and Free Expression

Since the announcement of the law, fears have grown that the "satanism" ban could lead to harsh consequences for fans of heavy metal, goth, and industrial music. Prominent Russian human rights lawyer Ivan Pavlov raised concerns, questioning whether people could be jailed for wearing T-shirts with pentagrams and goat heads. He noted that the practice of prosecuting cases involving other fictitious "extremists" suggests a troubling precedent.

The Supreme Court ruling will come into effect next month and could be applied retrospectively, meaning individuals could be imprisoned for social media posts made years ago. Russia has already banned certain groups as extremist and terrorist organizations, such as the "international LGBT social movement" and the Jehovah's Witnesses, placing them on par with the Islamic State.

Broader Context and Controversies

The same wording used to label these groups was also employed to outlaw late opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his nationwide network of activists. However, Russia recently removed the Taliban from its official list of extremist and terrorist groups in an effort to improve relations with the de facto rulers of Afghanistan, despite the Taliban's policies that have banned girls from secondary and higher education and restricted women's roles in society.

Not all of Putin's supporters agree with the ban. Yevgeny Popov, a pro-Kremlin MP and state television presenter, expressed skepticism about the claims of a growing number of "satanic sex orgies," admitting he was unaware of any significant increase. His comments highlight the ongoing debate surrounding the new law and its implications for freedom of expression in Russia.