Russia rules to free rapper jailed for street show

ARussian court yesterday granted early release to a popular Russian rapper jailed for 12 days for performing in the street, his lawyer said. The sentencing of the rapper Dmitry Kuznetsov, known as Husky, came as Russia’s hip-hop stars complain of increasing censorship and cancellations of concerts under pressure from authorities. Husky was jailed last Thursday after rapping to a crowd of young people from the roof of a car in the southern Russian city of Krasnodar.

He gave the performance after the venue where he was due to perform cancelled the concert at the last minute under pressure from officials. The 25-year-old rapper was found guilty of petty hooliganism. In a surprise legal decision, a district court in Krasnodar ruled to free him early, his lawyer Alexei Avanesyan wrote on Facebook. “The court just upheld an application by Husky’s defense lawyers and cancelled his 12-day jail term,” Avanesyan said. “We are going to the detention center to meet Dmitry,” the lawyer added.

He posted a court document saying the decision was motivated by “exceptional personal circumstances.” Defense lawyers had argued that Husky is currently on tour and a fine would have been sufficient, the lawyer said. The ruling did not cancel the guilty verdict against Husky but softened the punishment, Avanesyan told RIA Novosti state news agency.

Three of Russia’s top rap stars — Oxxxymiron, Basta and Noize MC-are set to give a concert in support of Husky at a Moscow club today, with all the profits going to Husky. The club said that the concert was going ahead despite his release. Opposition politician Alexei Navalny wrote on Twitter that the authorities freed Husky early because they were taken aback by the strong negative reaction to his case, including from fellow rappers. “The Kremlin did not expect such a united outraged reaction over the arrest of the rapper... therefore they urgently freed Husky,” he wrote. — AFP