'I am Russian': Jailed Kremlin critic Navalny says have to endure pro-Putin pop singer's song every morning

While Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny has been raising concerns about being poisoned, physically assaulted, and denied proper medical attention in prison, he recently revealed a new hardship that he has to face every morning: being compelled to endure a pro-Putin pop singer’s music at 5 am every day. According to The Guardian report, Navalny on Monday disclosed that his morning routine now includes listening to the Russian national anthem, followed by the patriotic song “I am Russian,” performed by the pro-Putin singer known as “Shaman”. The 47-year-old former lawyer gained prominence over a decade ago by satirising President Vladimir Putin’s elite and exposing allegations of extensive corruption. Currently, incarcerated in a prison located approximately 60 km (40 miles) north of the Arctic Circle, Navalny has been sentenced to remain in prison until the age of 74 on charges he claims were fabricated to sideline him from political activities. Shaman, also known by his real name Yaroslav Dronov, has capitalised on a surge of patriotism fueled by war, making him a prominent figure on state television. He is among the officially endorsed celebrities advocating for Putin’s candidacy in the upcoming presidential election in March. Performing his signature song, “I am Russian,” Shaman sometimes dons a black leather outfit adorned with an armband in the colors of the Russian flag. The song conveys a message of Russian resilience, asserting that Russians cannot be broken, urging them to persevere and carry on the legacy of their forefathers, added the report. In a controversial move in November, the 32-year-old singer simulated detonating a nuclear bomb during a concert broadcast on state TV. He pressed a red button on a mock nuclear suitcase, triggering fireworks that erupted around him. In a message on X facilitated by his allies, Navalny described a surreal morning routine.

1/6 The singer Shaman appeared on stage when I was already imprisoned, so I could neither see nor listen to his music. But I know that he is now Putin's main singer. And he has the most popular song: “I’m Russian".

— Alexey Navalny (@navalny) January 22, 2024

“The singer Shaman came to prominence when I was already in prison so I could neither see him nor listen to his music. But I knew he had become Putin’s main singer. And that his main song was ‘I am Russian’,” wrote Navalny. “Of course I was curious to hear it, but where could I listen to it in prison. And then they brought me to Yamal [the location of his Arctic prison]. And here, every day at 5 o’clock in the morning, we hear the command: ‘Get up!’ followed by the Russian national anthem and then immediately afterwards, the country’s second most important song is played – ‘I am Russian’ by Shaman.”

2/6 Everyone knows it, parodies of it are recorded, and so on. Of course, I was certainly curious to listen, but where in the prison I could do it?

And then I was taken to Yamal.

— Alexey Navalny (@navalny) January 22, 2024

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3/6 And here, every day at 5 o’clock in the morning, we hear the command: «Wake up!», followed by the Russian national anthem. Immediately afterward, the country's second most important song is played - «I’m Russian» by Shaman.

— Alexey Navalny (@navalny) January 22, 2024

The irony, said Navalny, was that state propaganda had once highlighted the fact that he used to march with Russian nationalists on annual marches and now, years later, he was being played an ultra-nationalist pop song for educational purposes while doing his morning prison exercises.

6/6 To be honest, I'm still not sure that I correctly understand what post-irony and meta-irony are. But if that's not it, what is it? 😉

— Alexey Navalny (@navalny) January 22, 2024

“To be honest, I’m still not sure that I correctly understand what post-irony and meta-irony are. But if that’s not it, what is it?,” quipped Navalny. With inputs from agencies