Bi-2 guitarist Maxim Andryushchenko said that when the political pursuit began, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, was the first person to whom the band members turned for help. When having a Russian passport, the situation becomes extremely difficult, especially when crossing the border, the guitarist said in an interview for Moldova 1, quoted by IPN.
Maxim Andriushchenko said that the band members were determined to obtain Moldovan citizenship primarily because of the war in Ukraine and the circumstances that followed it.
The decision to apply for Moldovan citizenship was taken after the prison incident in Thailand and the threat of deportation to the Russian Federation. The musicians noted that Moldova is the friendliest among the CIS countries. For now, the band members do not intend to stay in Chisinau, but in the future they could settle here for a longer period.
Besides the fact that the family likes to live here, the citizenship of the Republic of Moldova offers them more possibilities. “Being a citizen of the Republic of Moldova, I will be able to go to court if necessary. In the Russian Federation now you cannot go to court because you risk being imprisoned for life,” stated Maksim Andryushchenko.
The musician voiced hope that the band will be able to hold as many concerts as possible in Moldova.
At the end of May, President Sandu signed a decree to grant Moldovan citizenship to several members of the Bi-2 band and their families.
