Members of a Russian rock band opposed to the war in Ukraine have left Thailand for Israel, a week after authorities threatened to deport them to Moscow for working on the tourist island of Phuket without a permit, said the group and the Thai police.
Human rights activists had warned that the seven members of the rock band Bi-2 would be severely punished if returned to Russia. Several members of the group have dual Russian and Israeli nationality. Thai deputy police chief Surachate Hakparn said the Bi-2 members had asked to be deported to Israel. The group was fined for working without a permit, he added. Bi-2 also indicated on its Facebook page that all members had left Thailand for Tel Aviv.
“Safely”
The group is known for condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Russian Justice Ministry has called Bi-2 singer Igor Bortnick a“foreign agent” after he criticized last year the Russian President Vladimir Putin. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, welcomed Thailand’s decision to let the group travel to Israel. “Human rights concerns prevailed in Thailand’s decision to let all members of the Bi-2 group travel to Israel safely”did he declare.