Danish rapper's Russian dream turns into military nightmare

Deciding to move abroad is a big step that should be preceded by thorough research. Otherwise, one might be unpleasantly surprised by, for example, expensive healthcare, the lack of a custom of heating homes, or mandatory military service.

We have already described cases of daredevils who abandoned their former lives and voluntarily decided to move to Russia. It cannot be denied that it is an intriguing choice, considering that since the aggression against Ukraine, the country ruled by Putin has been under fire from nearly the entire world.

However, media reports were not enough to dissuade the Danish rapper Nicklas Hoffgaard, known as Stanley Most. He went to Russia last year and is now facing severe consequences.

The rapper decided to move due to the "deteriorating political climate" in Europe. In Russia, he was initially welcomed with open arms. Hoffgaard received a residence card and also applied for Russian citizenship. That’s when the troubles began. Hoffgaard signed a contract with the Ministry of Defence to expedite the bureaucratic processes. He hoped to choose his military assignment and become a border guard in Siberia or an English translator.

His hopes were in vain - by January 2024, he was in the centre of the fighting, serving in one of the Luhansk detachments. The rapper reported that soldiers in his unit forced him to drink vodka and suggested he was spying for the USA and Denmark. He disliked the conditions and the fact that he had to participate actively in the combat, so he withdrew from the contract with the Ministry of Defence. His lawyer argued that he did not know what he agreed to because his signed document was in Russian.

The case went to court—initially, the request was rejected, then accepted on appeal, and the Danish rapper's ultimate fate will be decided by the Military Cassation Court in Novosibirsk.