Imprisoned Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, who complained of poisoning, assault and denial of proper medical care, said on Monday he faced a new challenge: being forced to listen to a famous pro-Putin pop singer at 5:00 a.m. every morning, Reuters and News reported. .ro.

Navalny, 47, a former lawyer who rose to prominence more than a decade ago by taunting President Vladimir Putin’s elite and accusing him of widespread corruption, is now in a prison about 60 km north of the Arctic Circle.

• Read also: PHOTO Humorous remarks of Navalny in front of the judge at the first trial in the colony beyond the Arctic Circle

Sentenced to up to 74 years in prison on charges he says were fabricated to keep him out of politics, Navalny says his prison regime now requires him to listen to Russia’s national anthem every morning, followed by a song “Eu sunt rus”, a patriotic song performed by the famous pro-Putin singer “Shaman”.

The shaman, whose real name is Yaroslav Dronov, took advantage of the war-induced surge of patriotism to headline a program on state television and is among the celebrities who have officially endorsed Putin to run for president again in March.

His signature song, which he sometimes performs in a black leather outfit with a headband in the colors of the Russian flag, “I am a Russian”, talks about the fact that Russians cannot be “broken” and “go all the way”. and they have the blood of their fathers.

The 32-year-old entertainer sparked controversy in November when he simulated detonating a nuclear bomb at a concert broadcast on state television, pressing a red button inside a fake nuclear suitcase before fireworks exploded around him.

In a message on X, promoted by his staff, Navalny described the surreal morning routine: “Singer Shaman came to the fore when I was already in prison, so I couldn’t see him or listen to his music. But we knew that he became Putin’s main artist. And that his main song is “I’m Russian,” Navalny said. “Of course, I was interested in listening to him, but where could I listen to him in prison? And then I was brought to Yamal (the place where his prison is in the Arctic). And here every day at 5 o’clock in the morning I hear the command: “Stand up!”, then the anthem of Russia sounds, followed immediately by the country’s second most important song – “I am a Russian”. , with Shaman,” said Navalny.

“So, imagine the picture: Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District (its prison is not). Polar night. In the barracks for criminals of the special regime colony, A. Navalny, sentenced to 19 years, whom Kremlin propaganda has been trying to persecute for years for participating in Russian rallies, does exercises to the song “I am Russian”, which is distributed to him as an educational work with a corrective purpose. To be honest, I’m still not sure I understand what postirony and metairony are. But if not this, then what?” Navalny sums up humorously.