Published: Oct 06, 2025, 22:36 IST | Updated: Oct 06, 2025, 22:36 IST
A striking new alliance has emerged in Russia, blurring the lines between culture and power. Pop star Shaman, known for his patriotic anthems praising the military, has joined forces with Ekaterina Mizulina, Moscow’s top internet censor.
State media is celebrating them as the faces of a new nationalist movement, and together they’ve unveiled a political party called “We.” The initiative seems aligned with the Kremlin’s broader vision of fusing culture with politics.
Critics, however, see something darker—an unsettling mix of celebrity influence, propaganda, and authoritarian control tightening its grip over Russian society.