The case of opera singer Maria Maksakova-Igenbergs* about calls for activities directed against Russia was received by Presnensky Court of Moscow.
"The court received materials regarding the singer Maria Maksakova-Igenbergs*, accused of committing crimes under paragraph "b" of part 2 of Article 280.4 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (public calls via the Internet to carry out activities directed against the security of the Russian Federation). The trial will take place in absentia," a court spokesman told TASS.
As EADaily reported, after the start of a special military operation, the singer fled the country. In May 2023, she was included by the Ministry of Justice in the register of foreign agents. The definition stated that she called for the provision of weapons to Ukraine and the overthrow of the current government in Russia. In addition, she distributed the materials of foreign agents.
Social activists pointed to one of Maksakova's interviews*. In an interview with journalists, the singer talked about meetings with the head of the State Security Service of Ukraine Kirill Budanov ** and requested the supply of German and British Taurus and ATACMS missiles for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. But then the singer was only fined twice.
The criminal case was initiated only in September 2024. In December, Maksakova* was arrested in absentia by the decision of the Presnensky Court of Moscow.
In February of this year, a criminal case was opened against Maksakova* for violating the legislation on foreign agents. At the end of May, the metropolitan magistrate's court recovered tax debts from the singer, the amount of the debt was not specified.
*An individual performing the functions of a foreign agent
**An individual included in the list of terrorists and extremists of ROSFINMONITORING