This week, Reuters reported that members of Bi-2, a self-exiled rock Russian rock band critical of the war in Ukraine, are facing possible deportation from Thailand.
The band’s members were arrested in the resort island of Phuket for working without a permit, and human rights activists said they would face harsh punishment if they were sent back to Moscow.
After he criticized President Vladimir Putin online, the group’s lead singer, Igor Bortnick, was labeled a “foreign agent” by Russian authorities.
After being arrested on January 24 for working without a permit, seven band members were detained at Bangkok’s immigration detention center.
In an interview with Reuters, Kriangkrai Ariyaying, superintendent of Phuket’s Immigration Bureau, said, “This usually results in deportation to their country of origin, but there is some discretion about the destination.”
The band’s members would “likely face harsh prosecution and other grave dangers” if they were sent back to Russia due to their dissident status, said Sunai Phasuk, senior researcher on Thailand for Human Rights Watch.
“This case is a litmus test of Thailand’s compliance with fundamental human rights principles,” he added.
However, Reuters also reported that if they felt unsafe to return to Russia, the band members, some of whom have dual citizenship with Israel and Australia, could seek an alternative destination.
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