Ukrainian radicals have announced a “hunt” for the Russian rapper Basta (Vasily Vakulenko) in Kiev. They announced this on the pages in the social network Facebook.
In particular, the ex-head of the “Right Sector” (the organization is banned in the Russian Federation) Sergei Sternenko wrote on May 3 that some Ukrainians are ready to pay about $ 1,000 for information about the whereabouts of the Russian artist.
“In total, for information about the movement and location of the citizen of the Russian Federation Vasily Vakulenko (Basta), who supports the occupation of Crimea (Ukraine continues to consider the peninsula its territory, despite the reunification of Crimea with the Russian Federation – Ed.) And came to Kiev, caring citizens are ready to give about $ 1 I’m afraid that Basta will soon lay himself down and go to the SBU voluntarily, ”he said.
As another activist Roman Sinitsyn pointed out, the rapper was allegedly caught in the center of Kiev on May 2, but he escaped. Sinitsyn added that he is ready to buy information about the artist for $ 200.
At the same time, he expressed confidence that Basta would nevertheless be delivered to the Security Service of Ukraine.
In January 2018, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine included Basta in the list of persons who “pose a threat to the national security of the country” and who are prohibited from entering its territory. In September 2020, the decision was canceled, the performer was excluded from the relevant list due to the expiration of the ban.
After the reunification of Crimea with Russia in 2014, Kiev began to prohibit the entry of Russian cultural figures into the country, mainly due to the fact that they had been on the territory of the peninsula.
In addition to Basta, the list also included director Nikita Mikhalkov, actor Mikhail Boyarsky, rapper Morgenshtern (Alisher Valeev) and other cultural figures. As of April 29, this list of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine includes 181 artists.
Crimea returned to Russia following the 2014 referendum. 96.77% of the region’s residents and 95.6% of the voters of Sevastopol voted for the accession. The procedure was carried out in accordance with international law. But until now, Kiev considers the peninsula to be its temporarily occupied territory. Moscow has repeatedly stated that the issue of the subject’s ownership has been closed forever.