Moscow Judge Sentences Singer Monetochka to Year in Prison in Absentia

July 7, 2026 Monetochka. Facebook A Moscow judge on Tuesday sentenced exiled singer Monetochka to one year in prison in absentia after finding her guilty of violating Russia’s “foreign agent” law. Monetochka, whose real name is Yelizaveta Gyrdymova, left Russia shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. She now lives in Latvia, where she continues to perform and record music. Russia’s Justice Ministry designated Monetochka a “foreign agent” in 2023 after she spoke out against the war and raised funds to support Ukrainian civilians. In 2024, law enforcement authorities pressed criminal charges against the singer and placed her on a wanted list after previously fining her twice for failing to include a “foreign agent” disclaimer in her online posts. Russian prosecutors, who accused Monetochka of holding anti-government views, had requested a sentence of one year and 10 months in prison. Hundreds of cultural figures, journalists, businesspeople, as well as news outlets and organizations, have been branded “foreign agents” since Russia introduced the label in 2012. Russia applies the designation to individuals it views as enemies of the state. Those branded as “foreign agents” are required to include a lengthy disclaimer in all of their public appearances and statements, including posts on social media. Read more about: Foreign Agents , Celebrities 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 Moscow Prosecutors Seek Jail Sentence for Exiled Comedian Semyon Slepakov Slepakov, who rose to fame in the early 2000s as a participant on the comedy game show KVN, has publicly criticized the invasion of Ukraine. 1 Min read YouTuber Yury Dud Jailed Nearly 2 Years in Absentia for Breaking ‘Foreign Agent’ Law A court found Dud guilty of repeatedly failing to comply with the legal obligations imposed on individuals registered as “foreign agents.” 1 Min read Justice Ministry Investigating TV Presenter Urgant Over Alleged Foreign Influence State media reported last month that the presenter registered as an individual entrepreneur in France. Urgant denied the report. 2 Min read Russia Issues Arrest Warrant for Exiled Rapper Oxxxymiron State media, citing anonymous sources, reported that the rapper is accused of violating laws connected to his “foreign agent” status. 1 Min read