Stoptime on the war

Stoptime's stance on the war in Ukraine

Starting in the spring of 2025, Stoptime began busking on the streets of Saint Petersburg, announcing spontaneous performances via their Telegram channel. The musicians joined audiences in singing songs by anti-war artists designated as "foreign agents" by Russian authorities—including Monetochka, Noize MC, Zemfira, and Pornofilmy.

On October 12, 2025, on Nevsky Prospekt near Kazan Cathedral, Naoko and her audience performed Noize MC's song "Cooperative 'Swan Lake'", which a Saint Petersburg court had declared "banned information" in the spring of 2025 for expressing a "negative attitude toward the government and military of the Russian Federation." The song's chorus goes:

Where have you been for eight years, you f***ing monsters?! I want to watch the ballet, let the swans dance. Let the old man tremble in fear over his 'Ozero' cooperative. Get the propagandists off the screen—let the swans dance.

Arrest of band members

Following a wave of denunciations in October 2025, members of the "Stoptime" band were arrested and sentenced by a court to 13 days of administrative detention. Protocols were drawn up against Naoko for "organizing an unsanctioned rally" and "discrediting the army." She was brought to court in handcuffs; authorities promised to file the second protocol after her jail term expired.

Immediately following the court rulings on October 16, 2025, a message appeared on the "Stoptime" Telegram channel announcing the cessation of street performances.

After serving three consecutive administrative detention terms, the musicians were released from the detention center. According to media reports, singer Naoko and guitarist Aleksandr Orlov were escorted out of the detention facility in vehicles with tinted windows to prevent them from speaking with journalists. Both left Russia that same day.

One month later, they shared a stage in Vilnius with Noize MC and Monetochka, the very artists whose songs had led to their persecution in Russia.

Public reaction

The arrest of the Stoptime band members provoked wide public outcry. Dozens of supporters arrived at the courthouse in Saint Petersburg to stand by the musicians. Independent media and human rights advocates described the crackdown on street concerts as a continuation of repressive state censorship.

Many artists publicly voiced their support:

• Monetochka emphasized that she admired the courage of musicians "who sing such songs in the very heart of Saint Petersburg"—and admitted she would not have dared to do so herself.
• Pornofilmy frontman Vladimir Kotlyarov declared he was proud of the performance of his songs and called on fans to support Naoko in court.
• Saint Petersburg rock musician Mikhail Novitsky expressed sympathy, though he added that he avoids profanity himself "so as not to give the authorities an excuse."

Federal Russian state media, on the other hand, depicted the incident as "lawful police intervention." Interior Ministry representatives claimed that "local residents complained of disturbances," while pro-Kremlin Telegram channels labeled Stoptime's gigs "unauthorized rallies." Journalist Marina Akhmedova accused the musicians of "provocation" and "veiled protest against the army."

Interview with Dud

In December 2025, Naoko gave an interview to Yury Dud, in which she voiced her stance on the war and detailed the intimidation by Russian law enforcement agencies.

For me, it was incomprehensible. I understood that this was undeniably a war. My state attacked a neighboring state. Even then, I realized that this was inhumane, wild, unthinkable, and that what they show on television is a lie. That was why I tried to convey this to my family.

My mother simply told me later: «Romanov said that if you apologize after your second sentence and perform two concerts in a hospital for wounded soldiers from the special military operation, they will let you go and never bother you again.» That was what he promised her.

The members of "Stoptime" demonstrated the integrity of their convictions: they refused to endorse aggression or perform before Russian troops in exchange for freedom, choosing emigration and the liberty to openly speak the truth about the war.