Russian rapper Navai Bakirov, who performs under the name Navai, has played his first concert in Moscow since being expelled from Kazakhstan. The performance took place on November 8 at one of the capital's clubs, but the artist declined to speak with journalists about his detention, infohub.kz reports.
The SHOT Telegram channel published video filmed outside the Moscow club. According to the channel, the rapper left the venue through the VIP entrance at 01:00 after the concert. Fans and members of the press were waiting for him at the exit. Navai posed for photos with several female fans but refused to answer journalists' questions about his detention in Kazakhstan. Security guards blocked access to the musician, after which he drove off in his sports car.
Recall that on October 14 it emerged that Navai's fans would not be able to attend a planned performance in Astana — the organizers announced the concert's cancellation. The same day, the police department of Zhambyl Region said Navai had been detained on suspicion of drug smuggling, and a criminal case was opened. The artist was placed in a temporary detention facility.
The rapper's director, Rauf Gusanov, declined to comment on the artist's detention, while his mother called the situation a "setup" and expressed confidence that he would soon be released. Kyrgyzstan launched a probe amid the case: the Border Service is investigating how the musician could have crossed the border with drugs, and those responsible could face punishment.
On October 15, the artist was ordered held in custody. His lawyer, Rena Kerimova, said the defense would try to secure a fine for him. On October 20, it emerged that the case against Navai had been closed on non-exonerating grounds and that the rapper himself had been expelled from Kazakhstan.
Russian lawyer Dmitry Minov said rapper Navai could face a criminal case in Russia after his release in Kazakhstan.