Three members of the famous Russian metal band Corrosion of Metal were arrested mid-concert on Saturday and charged with displaying “Nazi symbols,” authorities said.
The group's three members, aged 19, 42 and 57, are accused of "propaganda or public display of Nazi paraphernalia or symbols", regional police in Nizhny Novgorod in the west of the country said.
“Police officers, with the support of the Russian National Guard, arrested three members of a musical group in one of the Nizhny Novgorod clubs,” the police added.
The offense is usually punishable by a fine or short-term administrative arrest.
Police said they seized T-shirts and books “depicting prohibited symbols.”
The group's leader, Maria Runova, told state news agency TASS that the motifs in question were "Old Church Slavonic symbols."
Footage posted on social media showed security forces breaking into the concert hall and forcing spectators to lie down on the floor.
Since Russia sparked conflict in Ukraine more than two years ago, Moscow has been cracking down on dissent, putting increasing pressure on free speech.
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