VOICE OF RESISTANCE

At a recent gathering of exiled Russians in eastern Paris the hall was packed. Members of the audience included Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and a Russian serviceman who deserted Moscow's army in Ukraine.

- ANNA SMOLCHENKO

They all listened intently to a 27-year-old pop singer who has emerged as one of the brightest anti-Kremlin stars since quitting Russia in 2022 in protest against its invasion of its neighbour.

The singer-songwriter Monetochka, who is known for evocative pop songs and rebellious lyrics, has made it her mission to support the Russian diaspora as well as those who cannot protest against the war, propaganda and repression back home.

"It pains me a great deal to see the young generation growing up in an environment where war, violence and cruelty are being normalised," Monetochka, whose real name is Elizaveta Gyrdymova, told the conference at the weekend.

"All I can do is steer clear of these lunatics and support those they have taken hostage," Monetochka said of the Kremlin.

After the singer left Moscow with her composer husband and settled down in Vilnius, authorities declared her a "foreign agent", launched a criminal case against her and put her on Moscow's wanted list.

The prosecution has complicated the logistics of her concert tours and cut off a major source of income.

She used to draw huge crowds in countries such as Serbia and Turkey but now has to avoid such Kremlin-friendly states and choose her airlines carefully to avoid extradition to Russia.