Russia has placed a Ukrainian singer who won the 2016 on its wanted list, state news agencies reported Monday.
The reports said an Interior Ministry database listed singer Susana Jamaladinova as being sought for violating a criminal law.
The independent news site Mediazona, which covers opposition and human rights issues, said Jamaladinova was charged under a law adopted last year that bans spreading so-called fake information about the Russian military and the ongoing fighting in Ukraine.
Jamaladinova, who performs under the stage name Jamala, is of Crimean Tatar descent. the 2016 Eurovision contest with the song 鈥1944,鈥 a title that refers to the year the Soviet Union deported Crimean Tatars en masse.
Her winning performance came almost exactly two years after Russia annexed Crimea as political turmoil gripped Ukraine. Most other countries regard the annexation as illegitimate.
Russia protested 鈥1944鈥 being allowed in the competition, saying it violated rules against political speech in Eurovision. But the song made no specific criticism of Russia or the Soviet Union, although it drew such implications, opening with the lyrics 鈥淲hen strangers are coming, they come to your house, they kill you all and say 鈥榃e鈥檙e not guilty.鈥欌
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