After being arrested for performing without a permit, members of a dissident Russian-Belarusian rock band critical of Moscow’s involvement in Ukraine were deported to Israel by Thailand.
On their Facebook page, Bi-2 stated that members departed for Tel Aviv on Wednesday night “safely.” Human rights activists had warned that if the group was sent to Russia, they would be severely persecuted for opposing Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The members of Bi-2 were being held by Thai officials for working without a permit on Phuket, a popular tourist destination.
Due to the international outcry over the band’s situation, Thai immigration officials offered the band the option of being deported to another country if they believed it would be unsafe to return to Russia. On Wednesday, the matter was taken over by Thailand’s National Security Council, which is headed by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
The self-exiled group, which was centered in Israel during the 1990s, has a number of mixed nationalities, including Australian and Israeli.
It was confirmed by Deputy Police Chief Surachate Hakparn that the band had asked to be sent back to Israel.
