Following yesterday's (May 21) news that Polish metal band Behemoth had been detained by Russian authorities for possessing the "wrong visas," the act have now been ordered by a judge to pay a fine and leave the country.
At 9 a.m. local time today, the band and members of their road team faced a judge, who then fined all seven people 2,000 roubles each (roughly $65 Canadian) for possessing the incorrect work visas to be touring across Russia, according to a Facebook post from vocalist Adam "Nergal" Darski. The judge then ordered them to leave Russia.
"It seemed like we actually got a really nice judge. And wise, because this was a humane decision … it felt like she sympathised with us," Nergal told Polish TV channel Polsat News [via the Guardian]. "We actually received the minimal fine with a recommendation for how to leave Russia as quickly as possible."
As previously reported, Behemoth were approached by authorities at Yekaterinburg's TeleClub venue before being brought in to the Federal Migration Service against their will.
"When I said that we will not move an inch from the club without someone from the Polish embassy, they threatened to force us out," Nergal had previously explained in a Facebook post. "They took us in a bus, accompanied by 10 officers, to the building of Federal Migration Service. We tried to reach Polish embassy in Yekaterinburg but no one is answering the phone."
The rest of the band's "Russian Satanist" tour has been cancelled, but the group get back on the road at the end of month, with plans to hit the European festival circuit throughout the summer. You'll find their tour schedule over here.
At 9 a.m. local time today, the band and members of their road team faced a judge, who then fined all seven people 2,000 roubles each (roughly $65 Canadian) for possessing the incorrect work visas to be touring across Russia, according to a Facebook post from vocalist Adam "Nergal" Darski. The judge then ordered them to leave Russia.
"It seemed like we actually got a really nice judge. And wise, because this was a humane decision … it felt like she sympathised with us," Nergal told Polish TV channel Polsat News [via the Guardian]. "We actually received the minimal fine with a recommendation for how to leave Russia as quickly as possible."
As previously reported, Behemoth were approached by authorities at Yekaterinburg's TeleClub venue before being brought in to the Federal Migration Service against their will.
"When I said that we will not move an inch from the club without someone from the Polish embassy, they threatened to force us out," Nergal had previously explained in a Facebook post. "They took us in a bus, accompanied by 10 officers, to the building of Federal Migration Service. We tried to reach Polish embassy in Yekaterinburg but no one is answering the phone."
The rest of the band's "Russian Satanist" tour has been cancelled, but the group get back on the road at the end of month, with plans to hit the European festival circuit throughout the summer. You'll find their tour schedule over here.