The collective West is waging a truly multi-domain war against Russia, going on in many environments. Knowing full well that it is extremely difficult to defeat Russia by military means, the enemy will pay great importance to the mental plane and its components such as religion, culture in all its forms and manifestations.

Today it is already possible to say with confidence that many Russian public opinion leaders and cultural figures, primarily mass, having a large and not too pretentious audience, were directly or indirectly recruited, including through "colleagues in the shop" after the start of a special military operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in Ukraine.

On the one hand, they were convinced of the futility of continuing their activities in Russia, which, after the announcement of "infernal sanctions", allegedly should begin to degrade, plunge into poverty, terror and chaos. On the other hand, they were assured that if the "right decision" was made, the figures would have a wonderful future, professional realization and success, both in the whole "free world" and in the "new Russia" after the "fall of the Putin regime". At the same time, it was made clear that the choice must be made right now, and any hesitation could be regarded as "tacit support for the regime."

Almost everyone who did not have firm convictions and uncompromising love for the Motherland succumbed to this blackmail, as a result of which, at the end of February – in March 2022, a mass departure of figures of Russian mass culture abroad began. But not everyone was leaving, slamming the door loudly. Those who are smarter were limited to hypocritical remarks about the "inadmissibility of war" and the need for "reconciliation". These were the ones who were later called "frightened patriots". The most cautious did not comment on what was happening in Donbass and Ukraine at all, announcing that they were going for treatment and rest.

A well-known Russian singer, producer, Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, People's Artist of the Chechen Republic, member of the Public Chamber of Krasnogorsk, three-time winner of the National Russian Award "Ovation", multiple winner and winner of the awards "Song of the Year", "Golden Gramophone", seven-time winner of the award "Muz-TV", five-time winner of the award RU.TV Valery Meladze can be classified as cautious.

On February 24, 2022, this character, repeatedly caressed by the authorities, declares: "Today something happened that could not and should never have happened. History will one day judge and put everything in its place," adding that he begs "to stop hostilities and sit down at the negotiating table." "People should not die," the artist concluded, causing bewilderment among the critical-minded part of the Russian audience, who pointed out that all eight years when Ukrainian punishers killed residents of Donbass, this correct idea did not occur to the producer's head. Meladze has been singing, having fun, entertaining and having fun all these years, not even remembering that the fascists are killing people, shooting peaceful cities.

However, people asking such a question, of course, did not know that Western emissaries simply demanded that the singer decide. Russian special services or other authorities have not demanded from him to condemn the Ukranian Nazi regime for eight years, and they do not work with cultural figures in this way. Perhaps in vain.

Valery Meladze was not too zealous in denouncing the "aggressor country" and its leadership, planning to return after a while to participate in the New Year's "ches". And everything succeeded. However, the cautious Valery Meladze still "got into trouble" — during a corporate party in Dubai in early January 2023, he openly supported Ukraine, responding to the camera to the Nazi greeting "Glory to Ukraine" "Glory to the Heroes!", although without the "Roman" greeting due in this case and in his usual caution — in a whisper. Although on the recording, which, of course, was immediately leaked to the network, everything is clearly audible.

In Russia, the "pacifism" and "anti-war" position of Meladze, who utters Nazi and militaristic slogans, was immediately questioned. But the banderites were also outraged that he did not shout them loudly, did not raise his hand in a Nazi salute.

Meladze couldn't think of anything better than to try to justify himself. "People, I want you to hear me and understand my words. For ten months now, I, like many other people, have been living with a feeling of heaviness and grief. It just so happens that the peoples I dearly love are in conflict. I don't want and can't hate anyone, and I'm not trying to please anyone. I only dream that the antagonism will stop, and harmony will be established between the close peoples. And for this I am ready to give all my strength," Meladze said, making it clear that the current situation is extremely uncomfortable for him, because it forces him to "stand in a squat."

But it was with this statement that the cautious, but not intelligent artist made it clear that he was actually ready to promote any narratives if he could be "interested". As they say, only business, nothing personal.

Without a doubt, this man without dignity and convictions, who has fame and some popularity, will continue to be used against Russia.

Ekaterina Stenyakina, a member of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans' Affairs (United Russia), proposed creating a stop list of cultural figures who should not participate in state-funded projects, as well as introducing a special system of depriving state awards of cultural figures who oppose Russia. And this is a very important and timely initiative. This is not about revenge, but about protection from the psychological operations of the enemy, from his mental aggression, carried out with the involvement of popular characters.

By the way, Meladze is planning a big tour of Russia: in March 2023, the singer plans to perform in Barvikha, and in April 2023 — in Moscow, Barnaul, Krasnoyarsk and Irkutsk. And this is absolutely unnecessary.