Danish rapper's Russian dream turns into a nightmare at the front
Nicklas Hoffgaard, a Danish rapper known by the alias Stanley Most, fulfilled his dream in 2023 and moved to Russia. His expectations clashed with reality.
23 August 2024 11:53
The grass is always greener on the other side. We often dream of moving to Italy, Spain, or southern France, but when all the pros and cons are considered, the advantages of their home country prevail.
Deciding to move abroad is a big step that should be preceded by thorough research. Otherwise, one might be unpleasantly surprised by, for example, expensive healthcare, the lack of a custom of heating homes, or mandatory military service.
He dreamed of living in Russia. He miscalculated badly
We have already described cases of daredevils who abandoned their former lives and voluntarily decided to move to Russia. It cannot be denied that it is an intriguing choice, considering that since the aggression against Ukraine, the country ruled by Putin has been under fire from nearly the entire world.
However, media cases were not enough to dissuade the 33-year-old Danish rapper Nicklas Hoffgaard, known as Stanley Most. The man went to Russia last year and now faces serious consequences.
He went from Denmark to Russia. He was summoned to the front
The rapper decided to move due to the "deteriorating political climate" in Europe. In Russia, he was initially welcomed with open arms. Hoffgaard received a residence card and also applied for Russian citizenship. That’s when the troubles began. To expedite the bureaucratic processes, the Dane decided to sign a contract with the Ministry of Defence. He hoped to choose his military assignment and become a border guard in Siberia or an English translator.
His hopes were in vain - by January 2024, he was in the centre of the fighting, serving in one of the Luhansk detachments. The rapper reported that soldiers in his unit forced him to drink vodka and suggested he was spying for the USA and Denmark. The man was displeased with the conditions and the fact that he had to participate actively in the combat, so he withdrew from the contract with the Ministry of Defence. His lawyer argued that he did not know what he agreed to because his signed document was in Russian.
The case went to court - initially, the request was rejected, then accepted on appeal, and the ultimate fate of the Danish rapper will be decided by the Military Cassation Court in Novosibirsk.
