Exiled Rapper Noize MC Charged With ‘Justifying’ Terrorism

Sep. 14, 2026 Noize MC (Ivan Alexeyev). Justice for the Beholder of the Harvester of Blackened Straw (CC BY-SA 4.0) Russian law enforcement authorities have pressed criminal charges against the exiled rapper Noize MC for allegedly making statements that “justify” terrorism, the Moscow Prosecutor’s Office said Monday. Noize MC, whose real name is Ivan Alexeyev, is accused of expressing support for a designated terrorist organization and making statements during his concerts that authorities say “justify” terrorist ideology. The Moscow Prosecutor’s Office did not specify which organization or statements prompted them to press criminal charges against the rapper. The charge of publicly justifying terrorism carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. According to the independent news outlet Sotavision, during a 2024 concert in Spain, Noize MC wore a T-shirt with the logo of Ukraine’s Azov regiment, which Russia classifies as a terrorist organization. The charges against the rapper come more than a year after a Russian court banned one of his songs as “extremist,” ruling that its lyrics amounted to propaganda calling for the overthrow of the Russian government. Noize MC left Russia shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He now lives in Vilnius, Lithuania and regularly organizes charity concerts for Ukraine along with other exiled Russian musicians. Russia’s Justice Ministry designated Noize MC a “foreign agent” in November 2022. Russian courts have since fined him for “foreign agent” violations and “discrediting” the Russian military. Read more about: Music Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Tatarstani Hip-Hop Duo Nears Top of Global Shazam Chart The success of “Pyala” marks the first time in history that a Tatar-language song has topped a major global song chart. 1 Min read Feature Pro-Kremlin Pop Star’s Concert a Microcosm of Russia’s Wartime ‘Patriotism’ Shaman brought his songs, which are filled with pro-invasion messaging, to St. Petersburg's Gazprom Arena, where local authorities reportedly bought up... 5 Min read Navalny Allies Call for EU Sanctions Against Rock Star Who Performed in Occupied Ukraine Navalny’s team said it was adding Roman Bilyk to its own list of Russian figures who they say should come under sanctions for enabling the invasion of... 2 Min read Russian Pop-Rock Star Visits Soldiers in Occupied Ukraine, Deletes Past Anti-War Posts Singer Roman Bilyk and his hit band Zveri previously condemned the war in Ukraine on social media, but the posts have since been deleted. 1 Min read