Jah Khalib (Bakhtiyar Mamedov) is a Kazakh Russian-language rapper, singer, beatmaker, and music producer. Born on September 29, 1993, in Almaty. He frequently performed concerts and maintained close friendships with Ukrainian artists such as Jamala and Oleksiy Durnev, and gave interviews to Dmitry Gordon and Ramina Eskhakzai.
In December 2015, the rapper traveled to Crimea, violating the border crossing regulations of Ukraine as well as legal entry procedures for foreign nationals visiting temporarily occupied territories.
Jah Khalib's stance on the war in Ukraine
Prior to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he lived in Kyiv and took refuge in bomb shelters in February 2022. He posted on social media that he was hiding in shelters and expressed admiration for the courage of Ukrainians, yet never dared to designate the Russian Federation an aggressor state or publicly oppose Putin's regime.
Currently, Jah Khalib performs concerts across Russian cities while remaining completely silent about the war in Ukraine.
Photo: Instagram story from February 27, 2022, which sparked cancellations of Jah Khalib's concerts in Russia
Jah Khalib had planned to perform concerts in Moscow and Saint Petersburg on April 23 and 25, 2023. However, pro-war singer Akim Apachev petitioned the Russian Ministry of Culture demanding a ban on his performances, alleging sympathy toward Ukraine. In response, Jah Khalib issued a public statement professing his loyalty and affection toward Russians:
Everything you have read about me in recent days is a lie. My story, around which this media frenzy arose, was published over a year ago. It was an expression of gratitude to ordinary people from Ukraine who, in a moment of dire hardship, without thinking of their own safety, helped evacuate me and my eight-months-pregnant wife from a bomb shelter and helped us reach Kazakhstan. Thanks to that, I had a healthy daughter born, with whom we have already lived in Almaty for a year. Almost my entire team consists of Russian citizens who reside in Russia. The vast majority of my listeners live in Russia. I always fly to Russia with good intentions, gladly giving concerts and performing on the radio, which clearly demonstrates my warm regard for the peoples of Russia.
What celebrities say about Jah Khalib's stance
Well, first of all, go to hell! Because Jah Khalib and I have a history. He appeared on my show, and I think he will watch this clip. So, you were fleeing Kyiv not because the weather here in February was suddenly awful, not because taxes went up or someone was rude to you in a restaurant. But because your beloved Russia, where your team lives, which you love visiting, and where all your listeners are, started bombing our country, including the city where you lived — Kyiv. And that's why you urgently, like many other terrified people, started fleeing the country, because war is terrifying and you felt that firsthand. How can you say after that that you love and respect Russia, which just a year ago nearly killed you with bombs? You fled. Great! Good for you! You are very grateful to the people, the Ukrainians who helped you, but now you say... well.. I understand the motivation.. Well then, go straight to hell!!
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