Ruslan Bely is a Russian comedian, producer, TV presenter, and humorist. He is the creator and producer of the show "Stand Up". He was born on December 28, 1979, in Prague, Czechoslovakia. At age 14, he moved with his family to the town of Bobrov in Voronezh Oblast.
The stand-up comedian was put on a "blacklist of artists" back in November 2021, and his concerts began to be canceled en masse. Bely linked this to the fact that someone took offense at his YouTube clips featuring jokes about the authorities.
On September 1, 2023, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation recognized him as a foreign agent.
Ruslan Bely's Stance on the War in Ukraine
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Ruslan Bely came out in support of peace, publishing a post on his Instagram:
What is there to dream about when shooting is happening, missiles are flying, and bombs are exploding? ONLY ABOUT PEACE. My stand-up special is called «One's Own Voice». And today my voice is for peace. [...] I cannot ignore what is happening. I don't want anyone today to lose parents, and I don't want anyone to lose children, simply because PEOPLE were unable to come to an agreement WITH PEOPLE. Everyone has their own truth. But everyone's dreams are roughly the same. MY VOICE IS FOR PEACE.
During his solo show "Still" in Moscow, the comedian ridiculed Putin's decision to attack Ukraine, and mocked propagandists and "official sources" of information about the invasion. Subsequently, in March 2023, the public movement "Veterans of Russia" filed a complaint against the artist, demanding an investigation into him for "discrediting the army" and "public calls to extremism."
If my country is attacked, I will of course go to defend it — that won't be the easiest choice either, but I would go defend it. But I have no intention of fighting for the interests of one single person, you see. Moreover, where would I go? My father is from Ukraine, half my relatives are there. I have a friend named Yevgeny there, he lives in Odesa, and the last thing I want is for my friend Yevgeny to be blasting mortar shells at me somewhere near Kherson shouting: «It's not all so clear-cut, Ruslan!» My friend Yevgeny has been in Territorial Defense for a year. He is damn good at firing mortars. I am a meteorologist. What am I supposed to do, calculate wind direction? Oh, right from where the mortar is firing. It'll reach faster today!
Ukraine would have attacked first — seriously? Would have attacked first? For what? To set up a punchline? Once upon a time Ukraine attacked Russia... Luckily, Lukashenko knew from where the attack was being prepared.
They say: don't worry, you are out of danger, you won't face criminal prosecution if you only use information from official sources. But I can't use information from official sources, because whenever I turn on the TV, they are constantly shouting. Moreover, let's see what official sources have said over the past year: there will be no war, conscripts won't be sent there, there will be no mobilization... So what does that mean? Listen to official sources and do the opposite? Right now, they're all screaming that there will be a nuclear war. That means this bullsh*t definitely won't happen.
Video: Ruslan Bely on mobilization
In 2023, Ruslan moved with his family to Spain. He produces YouTube shows and performs stand-up concerts across European countries, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Georgia, and elsewhere.
