MOSCOW: Soviet rock legend and outspoken Kremlin critic Yuri Shevchuk has been charged with 鈥渄iscrediting鈥� the Russian army after condemning Moscow鈥檚 military campaign in Ukraine during a concert.
Shevchuk faces a maximum fine of 50,000 rubles (770 euros, $800) if found guilty.
A case has been launched against him for 鈥減ublicly discrediting the use of Russia鈥檚 armed forces,鈥� a court in the city of Ufa in central Russia told the RIA Novosti news agency.
RIA Novosti said the case would be transferred to Shevchuk鈥檚 hometown Saint Petersburg.
On May 18, the 65-year-old performer told his audience in Ufa that it 鈥渋s not the president鈥檚 ass that needs to be licked and kissed,鈥� according to videos posted online.
鈥淣ow people are being killed in Ukraine. Why? Our guys are dying in Ukraine. Why?鈥� he told a cheering crowd.
The frontman of the 1980s Soviet rock band DDT, Shevchuk has over the years publicly criticized President Vladimir Putin and opposed the annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.