Lady Gaga responds to Russian court's prosecution threat

Lady Gaga has taken to her Facebook and Twitter pages to respond to the claims that she violated the permissions of her Russian visa, and could thus face prosecution.

The messages, syndicated on both social media sites, were her riposte to the threat that she could be prosecuted after entering the country late last year under a “cultural exchange” visa, the conditions of which would not have permitted her to stage commercial events such as concerts.

Madonna was also named in the statement issued by the office of the Prosecutor General, as she had performed last August under the same, apparently illegal, circumstances.

Gaga’s comments once more drew attention to the country’s hardline discrimination against gay and transgender citizens, calling the government’s actions “archaic” and “criminal.” At the end of June this year, a bill was passed that would criminalise those promoting “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations,” meaning individuals and organisations educating about homosexuality or campaigning for gay rights.

Vitaly Milonov, a St. Petersburg lawmaker and sponsor of the bill, had formerly filed a complaint against Gaga under the premise that her 2012 concert in the city’s SKK Arena “promoted homosexuality among children,” and that she “used the Russian flag improperly” and “slandered Russia.”

Sending bravery to LGBTs in Russia. The rise in government abuse is archaic. Hosing teenagers with pepper spray? Beatings? Mother Russia?

— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 5, 2013

The Russian government is criminal. Oppression will be met with revolution. Russian LGBTs you are not alone. We will fight for your freedom.

— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 5, 2013

Why didn’t you arrest me when you had the chance, Russia? Because you didn’t want answer to the world?

— Lady Gaga (@ladygaga) August 5, 2013

Gaga flirted with controversy after a lo-fi demo of the song ‘Burqa,’ reported to feature on her upcoming album ARTPOP, leaked online. Some criticised the song, and fans’ immediate reactions to it, for toying with cultural appropriation in the name of fashion.