Sergey Parkhomenko (stage names Seryoga, SERYOGA, Poligraf SharikOFF) is a Belarusian hip-hop performer who rose to prominence following the release of his massive 2004 hit "Chyorny Bumer". Early press releases described the rapper's musical style as "athletic ditties". Born on October 8, 1976, in Gomel, Belarusian SSR, USSR.
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.
In 2010, Seryoga became a judge on the television talent show "The X Factor Ukraine".
In September 2013, he received a permanent residence permit in Ukraine. Seryoga lived in Ukraine for many years, where his two children were born.
In 2014, he maintained strongly anti-Putin views:
Many people live in Russia who are deeply distressed about the situation in Ukraine. Who have many friends and relatives here. Who do not believe television propaganda. Upon whom it is difficult to impose the image of a Ukrainian fascist, an enemy. The war could have been avoided. Casualties could have been avoided. There are specific people who bear responsibility for this, and Putin is one of them
The singer also composed a verse-letter to Putin:
...comrade Putin, it is thoroughly pointless
to wage war on Slavic brothers...
...comrade Putin, this war
will not make you the new Marshal Zhukov...
In 2021, he publicly expressed support for Alexander Lukashenko in Belarus, referring to him as the "guardian of balance".
In September 2022, on state TV, he propagated the ideological claim of 'one single nation' opposed by the West. He also denied the historical legitimacy of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
In July 2024, he was entered into the database of the "Myrotvorets" website for war propaganda, Russian fascism, and Nazism.
Seryoga's Stance on the War in Ukraine
Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Seryoga chose a stance of silence and made no public comments regarding the so-called SMO for two full years.
In July 2024, on the program "Sudba Cheloveka" ("Destiny of a Man") hosted by state propagandist Boris Korchevnikov, Sergey Parkhomenko explained that he had lived in Ukraine with his children for more than 10 years. Prior to the launch of the military operation, the performer decided to take his children out of Ukraine so they supposedly would not begin condemning their father and siding with Ukraine:
At one point, with deep anxiety, I began observing the environment in which they were being raised. Understanding that this was a fundamental choice of values, about what kind of worldview they would grow up in and be educated under. And the choice there was between a responsible approach and an approach lacking responsibility; between patriotic, in the positive sense, and liberal, as is fashionable to describe it today. In short, to put it most concisely, I did not want my sons being raised by a Nazi
I did everything to get the boys out of there. That is, coercing me into treason was impossible. I did not have to alter my beliefs, switch sides, or be disingenuous. I repeatedly received proposals to change my position. Even after the war began, I received threatening calls and letters. They tried to pressure me, but that is impossible, because the only vulnerable spot where I could have been hurt concerned my children
They would simply have taken them hostage in order to exert pressure on me. To use me as an informational weapon. That would have given them a wide spectrum of leverage, you see?
The artist also commented on Ukrainians and foreign nations that allegedly "await liberation":
I remember how Ukrainians used to say: look how amazing everything is here. You cannot sell out sovereignty to such an extent. You cannot meddle in military chess. These people are weak due to their lack of education. It is precisely their lack of education that destroyed this country... We should be talking about the enslaved peoples of Europe and North America. They are waiting for our help, waiting for liberation. For someone to come and take leadership of them. They have a massive demand for justice over there!
Currently, Seryoga resides in Belarus but regularly travels to Russia. The singer continues his artistic endeavors, gives live concerts, and makes frequent appearances on television broadcasts and YouTube programs. On Russian state propaganda networks, Parkhomenko peddles Kremlin conspiracy theories alleging that the war in Ukraine was instigated by "Anglo-Saxons", actively promotes "Russian World" ideology, and insists that Ukrainians, Russians, and Belarusians are "one single people".
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