Behemoth Ordered to Leave Russia, Frontman Nergal Describes Horrid Overnight Detainment
On May 21, it was revealed by Behemoth frontman Adam 'Nergal' Darski that the band had been detained in Russia due to visa issues. The members of Behemoth were held overnight by the Russian Federal Migration Service, and in a new interview, Nergal describes the horrid conditions the band was forced to endure.
Nergal made fans aware of the band's detainment in Russia through a post on Behemoth's Facebook page. "We’ve been stopped by the [Russian] immigration services for ‘wrong visas.’ When I said that we will not move an inch from the club without someone from the Polish embassy, they threatened to force us out," Nergal wrote. "They took us in a bus, accompanied by 10 officers, to the building of Federal Migration Service. We tried to reach the Polish embassy in Jekaterinburg but no one is answering the phone."
A few hours after Nergal's original post, the musician typed another quick update. "It seems that it would be a normal arrest ... At 9AM we have a court judgment and then maybe deportation."
Deportation is exactly what happened, as Behemoth were ordered to leave the country of Russia "within a reasonable time," likely leaving the band unable to play the remaining 'Russian Satanist' dates.
Nergal spoke to Znak.com, a news opinion site run by Aksana Panova, who is a longtime critic of local Russian authorities. "It was a very small room and the walls were smeared with feces," Nergal describes the band's overnight detainment. "At night, we asked to be taken to the toilet but our request was denied for some reason. So we had to use plastic bottles instead."
Nergal adds, "We received the visas at the Russian consulate in Warsaw. When we asked how to fill out the paperwork, we were told that it was necessary to obtain a business visa. We did everything we were told. Now it turned out that it was necessary to get some kind of a 'humanitarian' visa, not a business one."
According to Blabbermouth, "A humanitarian visa is required visitors wishing to enter Russia for cultural purposes, science, sports, religion, etc. A humanitarian visa can be valid for up to 90 days and can be issued for single or double entry. It can also be issued for multiple entries and can be valid for up to one year."
Stay tuned for more news on Behemoth as news breaks.