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Human rights activists fear the self-exiled rock band Bi-2 would
face harsh punishment if it was sent back to Moscow. The group
is known for its condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine,
with its lead singer Igor Bortnick labeled by Russian
authorities as a "foreign agent" after he criticised President
Vladimir Putin online.
Seven band members were detained at Bangkok's immigration
detention centre after their arrests on Jan. 24 for working
without a permit, Kriangkrai Ariyaying, the superintendent of
Phuket's Immigration Bureau, told Reuters.
"This usually results in deportation to their country of origin
but there is some discretion (about the destination),"
Kriangkrai said.
Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher on Thailand for Human Rights
Watch, said the band members would "likely face harsh
prosecution and other grave dangers" if they were sent back to
Russia due to their dissident status.
"This case is a litmus test of Thailand's compliance with
fundamental human rights principles," he said.
Other officials who declined to be identified because they were
not authorized to speak to the media told Reuters that the band
members could seek an alternative destination if they felt
unsafe to return to Russia.
Band members with dual citizenship have the option of choosing
any other country that they belong to as a country of origin,
one official said.
Some band members have dual citizenship with Israel and
Australia, the two places the band were based before they moved
to Russia in 1999. The management of Bi-2, the Israel embassy in
Bangkok and Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.
(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat in
Bangkok, Filipp Lebedev in Tbilisi, Editing by William Maclean)
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