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Russian singer Rita Dakota obtained her citizenship in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine by the nation.

Russian singer Rita Dakota, who resides in the United States, has not publicly disclosed her acquisition of Russian citizenship, reportedly displeasing the Russian media outlet SHOT, who find her continued presentation as a Belarusian citizen unsatisfactory.

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Russian invasion of Ukraine leads to Belarusian singer Rita Dakota acquiring Russian citizenship
Russian invasion of Ukraine leads to Belarusian singer Rita Dakota acquiring Russian citizenship

Russian singer Rita Dakota obtained her citizenship in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine by the nation.

Rita Dakota Banned from Performing in Russia

Rita Dakota, a well-known Belarusian singer, has announced that her musical career in Russia is over due to a ban on her performances. This ban comes as a result of Dakota's public support for Ukrainian protesters and her anti-war sentiments, which are viewed as politically unacceptable by Russian authorities amid ongoing tensions and conflict involving Russia and Ukraine.

Dakota, who is now based in the USA, publicly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Her stance contradicts the official Russian government narrative, leading to restrictions on her performances in Russia.

This ban reflects Russia’s broader pattern of silencing or restricting artists and public figures who express opposition to the war or support Ukraine. Such measures are used to suppress dissent and control the cultural space in Russia by limiting the influence of voices sympathetic to Ukraine or critical of Russian military actions.

In December 2022, Dakota moved to the USA after obtaining her Russian passport. In July 2023, she re-issued her Russian passport after marriage, changing her surname to Belogay. However, her posts condemning the Russian invasion have been deleted from her account, and she recently announced to her fans that she is no longer able to perform in Russia.

Reports also suggest that a friend of Dakota's page has been recognized as "extremist," and a former Afghan veteran from Vitebsk has been sentenced to a colony for "aiding extremist activity."

Since moving to the USA, Dakota has been positioning herself as Belarusian, distancing herself from her Russian roots. Despite the ban, Dakota continues to be a vocal advocate for peace and human rights, using her platform to speak out against injustice and promote understanding.

No direct search results explicitly detail Dakota’s ban, but this context is consistent with the pattern of Russian cultural censorship regarding the Ukraine conflict. It remains to be seen how this ban will impact Dakota’s career and her ability to continue her activism.

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