The band, Bi-2, posted to Facebook that they had received information that Moscow had intervened in a plan that would allow them to fly safely to Israel. The post also reported that the members declined to meet the Russian Consul, which was confirmed by the head of the Russian Embassy's consular section.
“The group participants remain detained at the immigration center in a shared cell with 80 people,” the post said.
AP reports that the 7 members were arrested after performing in Phuket, a resort island popular with Russian expats, last Thursday for allegedly not having proper paperwork. They subsequently paid a fine and were sent to the Immigration Detention Center in Bangkok, but posted to Facebook saying that their concerts are always "held in accordance with local laws and practices."
Russia’s ambassador to Thailand Yevgeny Tomikhin claimed Russia was not involved in the detention to a local newspaper.
"It’s not our practice to dictate to anyone. Americans can do this. We don’t behave like that and don’t make such requests," Tomikhin said.
Human Rights Watch said in a statement Tuesday that the musicians "include Russian citizens as well as dual nationals of Russia and other countries, including Israel and Australia," with those holding only citizenship in Russia at most risk for deportation.
The band's singer, Yegor Bortnik, boarded a flight for Israel Tuesday, but his bandmates remain in jail.
"The Thai authorities should immediately release the detained members of Bi-2 and allow them to go on their way,” said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Under no circumstances should they be deported to Russia, where they could face arrest or worse for their outspoken criticisms of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s war in Ukraine."
"It is not known if the Russian authorities have sought the band members’ forcible return to Russia,” Human Rights Watch said. “However, amid repression in Russia reaching new heights, Russian authorities have used transnational repression — abuses committed against nationals beyond a government’s jurisdiction — to target activists and government critics abroad with violence and other unlawful actions."
