Russian teenager faces misdemeanour charge for listening to ‘extremist’ song

A 19-year-old in the Russian city of Kurgan has been charged after searching for and listening to a song that authorities have designated “extremist”, local police said.

According to the regional Interior Ministry, the teenager searched online for the track, then used a VPN to access and listen to it. He now faces prosecution under an article of Russia's Administrative Code that bans searching for and accessing “extremist” materials. The offence carries a fine of between 3,000 rubles (€30) and 5,000 rubles (€50).

The case is the sixth known instance of charges being filed under the statute, independent outlet Mediazona reported. The law came into force on 1 September 2025.

It is also not the first time someone in Russia has faced punishment over a song. People have repeatedly been prosecuted under the country's law against “discrediting the army” for listening to or playing songs by Ukrainian pop star Verka Serduchka.