Russian Comedians Walk a Tightrope Between Laughter and Jail
MOSCOW – Stand-up comedy is experiencing a surge in popularity across Russia, filling bars in Moscow and turning performers into stars. But behind the laughter lies a growing fear: a misplaced joke can now lead to hefty fines, imprisonment, or even forced exile.
Since President Vladimir Putin launched what the Kremlin calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine in February 2022, the boundaries of acceptable humor have drastically narrowed. New legislation criminalizing “discrediting” the Russian army carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison, casting a long shadow over the nation’s comedy scene.
The chilling effect is palpable. Comedians are self-censoring, carefully navigating a landscape where authorities take “everything seriously and literally,” according to Yevgeny Smirnov, a lawyer with the rights group First Division. Some preface their sets with disclaimers, assuring audiences they intend no offense, or even announcing jokes they won’t tell.
“Every time, we stoop to a whole new low. And there’s no end to it. We live in some kind of frightening mirror world,” said Anastasia, a Moscow resident who regularly attended comedy shows before the crackdown.
The risks are real. Artemy Ostanin, a 29-year-old comedian, was sentenced to five years and nine months in prison earlier this month after being convicted of inciting hatred for a joke about a person with a disability and offending religious believers with a joke about Jesus Christ. Pro-government activists from a group called Zov Naroda, or Call of the People, initially brought the jokes to the attention of authorities.
Ostanin attempted to flee to Belarus, but was arrested and deported back to Russia, reportedly suffering beatings and having his hair forcibly cut by Belarusian security services. Belarus’ interior ministry has denied the allegations of abuse.
The case has sent a clear message to others. “It’s easier to harshly punish one person so the others live with the knowledge that it’s best not to take risks,” said a fellow stand-up, identified only as Nikolai, fearing retribution for speaking out. NBC News agreed not to use the full names of those interviewed inside Russia due to safety concerns.
The crackdown isn’t limited to overt criticism of the war. Nurlan Saburov, a popular comedian from Kazakhstan, was recently banned from Russia for 50 years for “criticism of the special military operation, as well as violations of immigration and tax legislation,” according to state-run news agency TASS. Saburov stated on Instagram he would not comment further, leaving the matter to his lawyers.
Some comedians have chosen exile. Denis Chuzhoy, who performs in English as “Dan the Stranger,” left Russia after receiving a funeral wreath with the inscription “to Russia’s traitor” during a show. He now performs in Europe and the U.S., observing that Russian comedians who remain are largely “retelling wife jokes.”
Despite the pressure, some subtle forms of resistance persist. One comedian recently performed a routine involving a pizza with two slices missing, subtly resembling a peace sign.
The situation highlights a broader trend of shrinking freedoms in Russia, where even seemingly innocuous forms of expression are increasingly subject to scrutiny and punishment. As one comedian wryly observed, navigating the current climate is like walking an electric fence: “easy to get through, but God forbid you brush the side — you’re dead.”
