Ivan Urgant was a prominent face of Russian television just a few years ago. The presenter of the popular show “Evening Urgant” regularly appeared in New Year’s Eve programs, triumphant films and used to be on the screen of the state-run First Channel.

Everything changed in 2022 when, after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he posted a large black square with the inscription “No to war” on the social network Instagram. This silent protest was enough to practically disappear from the Russian public space. His story was detailed in an American newspaper The New York Times (NOW).

## The star is the host of parties and weddings

Unlike many other artists today,the forty-seven-year-old Urgant did not leave Russia. Although he is not facing criminal charges, he is informally banned from appearing on television and at major cultural events.

Today, he earns his living mainly as a moderator of private company parties, weddings and birthdays. Although he performs abroad with his former show,he only talks about the war in hints due to fear of the consequences after returning to Russia.

“Once upon a time there was a TV host, rich and famous,” Urgant sang at a recent performance in Berlin, according to the NYT. “But one day he went on the internet and put a little black square there.”

at the same time, Urgant’s story shows how fundamentally the Russian media and cultural space has changed under the rule of Vladimir Putin. While political satire was a regular part of television in the 1990s, the gradual nationalization of the media has almost completely closed this space, and today it is no longer an option, the NYT notes.

Although urgant never openly attacked the Kremlin,his program occasionally featured innuendoes directed against the government. This is what made him a problem after the start of the war.

Unlike Urgant, loyal creators of russian entertainment were given space. State television has launched new shows featuring comedians who support the war, and some of Urgant’s former colleagues have openly sided with the Kremlin. Urgant’s fate thus illustrates the alarming state of freedom of expression in Russia.

Ivan Urgant: The Late-Night Host Who Challenged Putin and Paid the price

Ivan Urgant, once the face of Russian late-night television, has become a symbol of resistance against Vladimir Putin’s regime. His story is a stark illustration of the consequences faced by those who dare to dissent in modern Russia.

Urgant hosted the popular “Evening Urgant” show on Channel One,Russia’s state-controlled television network,for nearly a decade.Known for his wit, charm, and often subtle jabs at the authorities, he cultivated a loyal following. However, his career took a dramatic turn with the onset of the war in Ukraine.

Just before the invasion, Urgant made a seemingly innocuous comment on air, suggesting the attack could be delayed “by 700 years,” wich was met with enthusiastic applause from the studio audience. This seemingly lighthearted remark, however, proved to be a pivotal moment. When Putin ordered the invasion, Urgant swiftly published an anti-war post on his social media.

the repercussions were immediate and severe. His show vanished from the airwaves and has not returned.

According to Russian exiled film critic Anton Dolin, the regime doesn’t tolerate dissent from those it considers its own. “Urgant hosted the new Year’s show on Channel One. It is the most watched TV show of the year. Such a person, in their opinion, has no right to publish a black square,” Dolin explains.

Urgant’s case highlights the increasingly repressive atmosphere in Russia, where even subtle expressions of opposition can lead to professional ruin and potential persecution. His silence since the initial anti-war post speaks volumes about the risks involved in challenging the Kremlin.