The British duo Pet Shop Boys released a song “Living in the past” in which Russian President Vladimir Putin is compared to the dictator Joseph Stalin.

The video, posted on the band’s YouTube channel, uses footage from Putin’s inauguration, images of Joseph Stalin, and reports of mass arrests during protests in Russia, Russian Free Press reports.

“Like him, I will win. I will not be overshadowed. I want people to die with my name on their lips / I want to be feared, as everyone feared him, because those who were arrested and shot still worshiped him”, are some of the words of the song.

In May 2022, the Pet Shop Boys said they look forward to the day when fascism falls in Russia and “criminal politicians are brought to justice, the truth will be told, neighboring countries will no longer be threatened or invaded, but the new Russia.”

Pet Shop Boys are one of Britain’s most influential and popular acts, with over 20 UK Top 10 singles and four number 1s – ‘West End Girls’, ‘It’s a Sin’, ‘Always on My Mind’ and ‘Heart’. Founded in 1981 in London by Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe, the group was listed in the Guinness Book of Records in 1999 as the most successful duo in the history of British music.

He released 14 studio albums, sold more than 100 million copies worldwide, and was awarded three Brit Awards and six Grammy nominations. Among the hit singles “Go West,” “Opportunities (Let’s Make Lots of Money)” and “What Have I Done to Deserve This?” in a duet with Dusty Springfield.