"Ministry of Justice, sincerity and honesty are not paid for by decent people." Maxim Galkin on the status of "foreign agent"

Comedian Maxim Galkin commented on the decision of the Russian Ministry of Justice to add him to the list of individuals - "foreign agents". Galkin's address was published on his Instagram .

The rationale for this decision [to include me in the list of "foreign agents"] was that I allegedly received funds from Ukraine, which I used to carry out political activities. Firstly, I do not engage in political activities. From the stage in my concerts, I engage in the humorous genre, political satire, I have been doing this for 28 years. <…>

If I address my subscribers or viewers outside the genre, as a citizen, as a person, I do it absolutely sincerely. Sincerely and remaining honest with myself. The Ministry of Justice, sincerity and honesty are not paid for by decent people, to whom I hope I belong. I do not sell my opinion and my thoughts and do not buy others. I do not trade in conscience.

Galkin added that he received money from Ukraine “once, about 10 years ago, when he gave concerts there.”

Therefore, of course, the reason is far-fetched. Why this is happening, I do not know. I will not give up the genre of humor and satire to please the political situation. I used to joke about our politicians, and I will continue to joke. And I consider this normal and my right to work, just as I have the right to freedom of speech, enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Which, probably, the Ministry of Justice should also protect. <…> Therefore: a foreign agent, so a foreign agent. I do not consider myself a foreign agent.

• Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Maxim Galkin has spoken out against the war on several occasions. In early September, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that Galkin had made "very bad statements" and that "he is clearly not on the same path as us."
• Galkin and his wife, singer Alla Pugacheva, left Russia shortly after the war began. Pugacheva, who has made no public statements about the invasion of Ukraine, returned to the country in August. Galkin, according to information on his social networks, is abroad.