Singer labeled Russian ‘foreign agent’ seen at French Open
Top-ranked Russian tennis player, Daria Kasatkina, has taken a bold stance against the war in Ukraine. Kasatkina is currently seeded at number nine in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings and recently played her fourth-round match against Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina. However, it was not just her impressive performance that caught the attention of the crowd. Popular Russian singer, Zemfira, was spotted in Kasatkina’s box cheering her on. Zemfira, who fled Russia due to her opposition to the war, was declared a “foreign agent” by the Russian government in February 2022. The 46-year-old singer has been performing since the turn of the century and has sold over three million records, despite criticism from the Russian authorities.
Zemfira’s support of Kasatkina follows the tennis star’s open criticism of the war in Ukraine. Kasatkina has been threatened with being labelled a “foreign agent” herself, with member of Russian State Duma, Roman Teryushkov, applying to have her blacklisted for her comments. In a series of interviews published on YouTube in July of last year, Kasatkina described the war as a “full-blown nightmare” and expressed her hope for it to come to an end. Kasatkina also came out as gay during the interviews.
Kasatkina and Zemfira’s bold stance on the war has gained support from around the world, shining a spotlight on both the tennis star and the singer. Russia’s “foreign agent” laws have been criticised for violating human rights and suppressing civil society. Those labelled as foreign agents can face punitive measures, including police searches and in some cases, being forced to leave the country.
Kasatkina’s fourth-round match against Svitolina takes place at a politically charged time as Belarus, a key ally of Russia in the invasion of Ukraine, allowed Russian troops to station in its territory. On Wednesday, Belarusian player Aryna Sabalenka was questioned regarding her support of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko and her boycott of a previous press conference. The quarterfinal match between Sabalenka and Svitolina shapes up to be the first meeting between the players since the invasion and presents an opportunity for the two sides to come together in sport.
FAQs:
Q: Who is Daria Kasatkina?
A: Daria Kasatkina is the top-ranked Russian women’s tennis player, currently seated at number nine in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings.
Q: Who is Zemfira?
A: Zemfira is a popular Russian singer who has been performing since the turn of the century.
Q: What is Russia’s “foreign agent” law?
A: Russia’s “foreign agent” laws were implemented in response to protests against Vladimir Putin’s return to the presidency after the 2012 election. The laws have been criticised internationally for violating human rights and suppressing civil society.
Q: Who is Aryna Sabalenka?
A: Aryna Sabalenka is a Belarusian tennis player who has been combative in her responses to questioning regarding the war in Ukraine and her relationship with Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenko.
Q: What is the significance of the quarterfinal match between Sabalenka and Svitolina?
A: The quarterfinal match between Sabalenka and Svitolina is significant as it shapes up to be the first meeting between the players since the invasion of Ukraine. The match presents an opportunity for the two sides to come together in sport.
Russian singer accused of being a ‘foreign agent’ spotted at French Open
Daria Kasatkina, the top-ranked Russian women’s tennis player, has been met with support for her outspoken opposition to the war in Ukraine. On Sunday night, she played a fourth-round match against Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina with Russian singer Zemfira in her spectator box. Zemfira, who has been declared a “foreign agent” by the Russian government for supporting Ukraine and receiving foreign sources of support, has been critical of the war and fled to France in 2022. Russia’s “foreign agent” laws, which have expanded to include media organizations, private individuals, and citizens who criticize the military or security services since their implementation in 2017, have drawn international criticism for violating human rights and suppressing press freedom and civil society. Kasatkina herself has received threats of the “foreign agent” designation for her criticisms of the country after the invasion of Ukraine. The quarterfinal of the French Open looks set to be a politically charged match between Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, a key ally of Russia in the invasion of Ukraine. Both players have refused to shake hands with players on the other side of the war throughout the tournament.