Bangkok: Members of a dissident Russian rock band – which includes an Australian citizen – face possible deportation to Russia from Thailand after they were arrested on the resort island of Phuket on charges of operating without a permit, several officials said.
Human rights activists fear that the exiled rock band B-2 will face harsh punishment if they are returned to Moscow.
Shura B-2, also known as Alexander Uman (left), and Leva B-2, also known as Igor Bortnik.credit: B2Band
Band member Alexander Uman, known as Shura P-2, holds Australian citizenship along with Russian and Belarusian citizenship, according to IMBD, and lives in Melbourne.
Bi-2 is best known for its condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with Russian authorities describing their lead singer Igor Bortnik as a “foreign agent” after he criticized President Vladimir Putin online.
Kriangkrai Aryang, a supervisor at the immigration office in Phuket, told Reuters that seven members of the band were detained at an immigration detention center in Bangkok after they were arrested on January 24 on charges of working without a permit.
“This usually results in them being deported to their country of origin but there is some discretion [about the destination]Kryangkrai said.
Prison in Phuket.credit: B2Band
Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher on Thailand at Human Rights Watch, said the band members “would likely face harsh prosecution and other serious risks” if they were returned to Russia because of their dissident status.
“This case is a real test of Thailand’s commitment to basic human rights principles,” he said.
