Popular Russian singer asks to be named ‘foreign agent’

Russian president Vladimir Putin, left, with pop singer Alla Pugacheva in 2014 (Alexei Druzhinin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

A famous Russian singer, popular since Soviet times, says she wants to be placed on the country’s foreign agents list in solidarity with her husband who has been designated as one.

The statement by Alla Pugacheva on Instagram is a notable slap from a prominent figure at Russian authorities, who have stifled dissent in recent years.