Accessibility links

Breaking News

Russia Opens Probe Into 'Bloodhound Gang' Flag Incident


Bassist Jared Hasselhoff of Bloodhound Gang is seen in an Internet video pushing the Russian tricolor flag through his pants during a concert in the city of Odesa on July 31.
Bassist Jared Hasselhoff of Bloodhound Gang is seen in an Internet video pushing the Russian tricolor flag through his pants during a concert in the city of Odesa on July 31.
Russia's Interior Ministry has launched a criminal probe into flag desecration after the bassist in the U.S. rock group Bloodhound Gang stuffed a Russian flag down his pants (warning: profanity) at a concert in Ukraine.

The ministry said in a statement that it had opened a criminal case "after looking into actions that demonstrated disrespect to the Russian state flag."

Under Russian law, desecration of the national flag can lead to a jail sentence of up to one year.

"A criminal case has been launched over a desecration of the Russian Federation flag," Russian Interior Ministry spokesman Andrei Pilipchuk said in a statement. "The main suspect in the case is a bass guitar player of an American band who committed the offense during a rock concert in the city of Odesa in the Republic of Ukraine. This offense carries a maximum sentence of imprisonment of up to one year."

Earlier, the U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul said in a tweet that he found the actions of the band "disgusting."

The band's appearance at a festival in southern Russia was canceled and the musicians were forced to leave the country after video emerged of the July 31 incident.

The band was subsequently attacked by a group of men at Russia's Anapa Airport in an incident that was also shared on the Internet.

Based on reporting by AFP and Interfax

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG