Arrest Warrant Issued for Exiled Russian Rapper Face Amid Political Controversy

Russia’s Interior Ministry has issued an arrest warrant for the rapper Face, according to the exiled news outlet Mediazona, as reported on Friday.

The authorities have not revealed the specific charges against the 27-year-old artist, whose birth name is Ivan Dremin. In 2022, he was designated a “foreign agent” and has faced several fines for failing to adhere to the obligations associated with that designation.

Face departed Russia shortly after the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, announcing his decision to cease performing in the country and to remove his music from Russian streaming services.

He gained popularity in 2017 with the hit music video «Burger,» which attracted over 30 million views on YouTube. His 2018 album «Mysterious Ways» reflected a turn towards politically charged content, addressing issues like poverty, corruption, and malpractices within Russia’s prison system.

Face had also been a vocal supporter of the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, participating in various protests in support of the anti-Kremlin figure.

His most recent album, titled «God of Rap,» was released in June 2024.