Lady Gaga and Madonna are in trouble with the Russian authorities. The two Americans performers are being investigated for supposedly breaking the country’s visa laws, but rumors are spreading that the scrutiny actually involves the singers’ gay rights support.
Both performers held concerts in St. Petersburg last year on cultural-exchange visas, and technically weren’t allowed to work in the country. The office of Russia’s prosecutor general issued a statement that neither singer was traveling with an appropriate visa for engaging in “commercial activity,” according to The Guardian.
But the two concerts had another similarity: both Gaga and Madonna made comments supporting gay rights at their concerts. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin recently signed into law a ban on “gay propaganda,” outraging gay rights advocates worldwide.
“Tonight, this is my house Russia,” Lady Gaga said during her performance in December 2012, according to ABC News. “You can be gay in my house.”
Madonna also made a reference to gay rights during her concert in August 2012.
“Gay people here and all around the world have the same rights,” she told the audience.
The visa investigation was prompted by Vitaly Milonov, who is a member of the St. Petersburg’s municipal legislature and wrote the original law banning gay “propaganda,” according to The Guardian.
After the 2012 concerts, Milonov attempted to try the performers in court for “promoting sodomy, lesbianism, bisexuality and transgenderism among minors,” but the court rejected his claims.
“The Russian government is sending a shot across the bow to Lady Gaga, Madonna, and other performers who are taking up gay rights in Russia,” Paul Saunders, executive director of the Center for the National Interest told ABC News.
The laws have caused some controversy in the United States as well. Gay rights activists have begun boycotting Russian vodka, and some even called for a boycott on next year’s Winter Olympics, which will be held in Sochi, Russia. Officials announced last week that the law will be suspended for athletes and fans during the games.
There is no word yet on whether Lady Gaga or Madonna will face charges.
