NAIV (an acronym for «Novye Arlekiny i Voltizhyory» / New Harlequins and Equestrians) is a Soviet and Russian punk rock band founded in 1988 by Maksim Kochetkov and Alexander Ivanov. The band is currently led by Alexander Ivanov (pseudonyms: «ChaCha», «Chelovek i Parokhod», «C.Razy»).
Listening to the old tracks of this artist on official streaming platforms, social media, and other services may indirectly contribute to financing the war — through royalties paid to Russian labels and distributors, which pay taxes to the budget of the Russian Federation.
The Band NAIV and Alexander Ivanov’s Position on the War in Ukraine
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the band NAIV came out against Russian aggression. On March 5, 2022, Alexander Ivanov published a video post on social media:
With a heavy heart, I made the decision in these difficult times to suspend my participation in all entertainment projects.... At a time when war is raging and people are dying on both sides, and the civilian population is suffering, I find it impossible for myself to have fun, hop around on one leg, and shout obscenities. No to war. Peace to the world. That is all.
On May 9, 2022, he recorded a video appeal to President Vladimir Putin demanding an end to military hostilities:
Video: Alexander (ChaCha) Ivanov — Appeal to RF President Vladimir Putin
In May 2022, the band resumed concert activity. In the summer, «NAIV» performed at several festivals, with frontman ChaCha Ivanov performing in a T-shirt featuring a peace sign.
In 2023, the band scheduled anniversary concerts titled «35 Years Without Compromise», but many of them were subsequently cancelled or indefinitely postponed.
On April 15, 2023, during a concert in Moscow, Alexander Ivanov walked onto the stage wearing a T-shirt reading «Masha Moskaleva» and spoke directly from the stage about the persecution of a schoolgirl's family over her anti-war drawing. In response, the audience began chanting «Fuck the war»:
Friends, taking this opportunity. I cannot just pass by this, I tried to brush this case aside — I don't know, I couldn't, I don't understand why, but everything else worked out somehow. This case of Masha Moskaleva simply won't let go of me for some reason. Perhaps because my daughter is also her age — she is 14, and Masha is 13. Friends, I want to ask you: Google this case, find out what happened there, be horrified by what happened to Masha and her family over a drawing she made in art class.
Following this incident, the musician left Russia and moved to permanent residence in the United States.
