Poetess Veronika Dolina Detained At Moscow Airport

• 15.11.2024, 16:20

The issue of initiating criminal cases is being decided.

Poet and singer-songwriter Veronika Dolina was detained at Moscow's Zhukovsky Airport. As reported by DW, her detention on Friday, November 15, was confirmed in an interview with Novaya Gazeta Evropa by Dolina's son, film critic Anton Dolin.

Earlier that day, the Shot Telegram channel, which is associated with Russian law enforcement agencies, reported Dolina's detention. It claims that the artist flew to Moscow from Tel Aviv on November 12, and that customs officials found Ivalgin, Tramadol, Sumatruptan, as well as drugs containing codeine and brotizolam, which she did not declare when leaving Israel. Dolina was later released on a promise to appear, and is now at home, Shot wrote.

Dolina could face up to 20 years in prison.

The issue of initiating criminal cases under articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation on smuggling potent substances and drugs, which could result in up to 20 years in prison, is being decided, the report notes. The performer also told the Telegram channel that the drugs for which she was detained were painkillers for personal use.

Veronika Dolina is a famous Soviet and Russian performer, poetess and bard, she publicly spoke out against the Russian war in Ukraine. Among other things, she signed an open letter from the Congress of the Intelligentsia of Russia “To the Warmongers”, published on February 21, 2022, on the Echo of Moscow website. Her son Anton Dolin, who also publicly criticizes the Russian authorities, was recognized as a “foreign agent” in October 2022.