INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Moldova has granted citizenship to several members of the Russian-Belarusian rock band Bi-2, the government in Chisinau announced late
Monday, months after the music group was detained in Thailand and faced potential deportation to Russia.President Maia Sandu signed a decree
giving Moldovan passports to "certain members of Bi-2," her office chief Adrian Balutel announced on social media."Our country protects
human dignity, freedom of expression and shows solidarity with those who are in danger," Balutel added.Members of Bi-2, formed in the 1980s
in Belarus when it was still part of the Soviet Union, left Russia in protest over the full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has since toured
in countries with large Russian-speaking diasporas.A spokesperson for the group said nine band members had been given Moldovan citizenship,
including a guitarist, the group's artistic director and engineer, along with members of their families.The group moved to the Moldovan
adding that they "appreciate the Moldovan leader and all those who have helped us."Some of the band members have Australian and Israeli
citizenship, as well as Russian.Bi-2 made headlines in January when its members were detained for a week in Thailand after they purportedly
incorrectly filled out immigration documents, sparking fears that they could be deported to Russia where they would face persecution.After
their release, the band went to Israel and has been touring again since March.Bi-2 has been performing outside Russia since Moscow launched
