Elena Temnikova is a Russian pop singer and songwriter. Rose to fame following the television project "Star Factory-2" in 2003 and as the lead singer of the pop group SEREBRO, which placed third at the Eurovision Song Contest 2007. Born on April 18, 1985, in Kurgan, RSFSR.
In 2017, she performed at the "Vesna" (Spring) concert on Red Square in celebration of the 3rd anniversary of Russia's annexation of Crimea, declaring that she was an enormous admirer of her country, the Russian nation, Putin, and Medvedev. Consequently, in 2019, a scheduled concert in Odesa was disrupted and canceled by activists.
Listening to this artist's tracks on official streaming platforms, social media, and other services indirectly contributes to financing the war — through taxes paid to the budget of the Russian Federation.
Elena Temnikova's stance on the war in Ukraine
On the day Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Elena Temnikova posted an anti-war statement on Instagram, expressing personal shame and solidarity with the Ukrainian people:
All my friends and I are categorically against war and this attack. I have close friends living in Kyiv, Odesa, and Kharkiv. And I feel acute pain, bitterness, and profound shame for what is happening right now. The Russian people have always stood for peace. No to war! We do not want war! ... Stop this, I beg of you. Russians have nothing to fight over with Ukrainians. Only a shared table, home, and shared triumphs and victories. To anyone who disagrees with me, unfollow me and let us forget each other. I don't even want to know you. People close to me are under fire! I only want people and humanity alive... no to war #nowar
The post was deleted shortly after publication, which many attributed to Russia enacting harsh laws on "fake news" and "discrediting" the army.
Departure from Russia and silence
In the summer of 2022, reports emerged that Temnikova had left Russia along with her family (her husband and daughter) and relocated to Portugal. Bloggers and media outlets noted that the singer had been residing there for an extended period, although her concert director attempted to frame the move as an extended holiday.
"Cancellation" in Russian state media
In April 2023, the TV channel MUZ-TV blurred out Elena Temnikova in a retrospective documentary about "Star Factory." Mentions of Temnikova in a speech by Maxim Fadeev were likewise edited out of the broadcast.
A string of scheduled concerts across Russia were canceled or postponed indefinitely.
Return to Russia in 2023
Elena Temnikova subsequently returned to Russia and resumed her concert activities. She explained her extended absence as having been caused by "burnout."
In June 2023, Temnikova performed in Saint Petersburg during the "Scarlet Sails" graduation festivities, despite the fact that shortly before the event, Ekaterina Mizulina, head of the Safe Internet League, had urged the cancellation of her performance over her past criticism of the "SVO."
On June 22, 2023, the singer participated in an official commemorative event on Poklonnaya Hill marking the Day of Memory and Sorrow. For this, she received praise from Mizulina:
...She spoke out against Nazism and wrote kind words about our history. This is a good step in the right direction. It appears she has revised her stance regarding our country and the conduct of the SVO. We will be watching closely: we look forward to a visit to a hospital for wounded warriors and a concert on the front line.
She is registered on Roskomnadzor's Gosuslugi portal. This confirms that her activities are officially monitored and regulated by the Russian state.
