Gleb Kolyadin and Bi-2 bandmates released from Thailand jail

Iamthemorning pianist Gleb Kolyadin and band members from the popular Russian rock band Bi-2 (with whom he performs as a session musician) have been released from jail in Thailand, where they were facing deportation to Russia and could have faced persecution for anti-war sentiments

In a social media post, Kolyadin's Iamthemorning colleague Marjana Semkina announced: "Guys!!! They got out!!! Safely on a plane to Israel. Can’t wait to have him back in the UK. We’re still a little worried about potential issues at the Israeli border but surely everything should be fine after the story for so crazy big in international news. I also know that UK authorities were on site yesterday.

"Thank you all SO MUCH for your help, posts, emails, sharing the petition and just moral support. I for one really needed it."

The news comes hours after Russian politician Andrei Lugovoy, a member of the lower house of Russia’s parliament, called the band members "scum" for their criticism of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine. Lugovoy is currently wanted by British police on suspicion of the murder of the prominent Vladimir Putin critic Alexander Litvinenko.

"Let the guys get ready: soon they will be playing and singing on spoons and on metal plates, tap dancing in front of their cellmates,” Lugovoy boasted on the Telegram messaging app. “Personally, I would be very happy to see this."

News of the musician's plight was widely reported yesterday by outlets such as The Guardian and Sky News, with Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch, saying "Under no circumstances should they be deported to Russia, where they could face arrest or worse for their outspoken criticisms of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s war in Ukraine."

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Writer and broadcaster Jerry Ewing is the Editor of Prog Magazine which he founded for Future Publishing in 2009. He grew up in Sydney and began his writing career in London for Metal Forces magazine in 1989. He has since written for Metal Hammer, Maxim, Vox, Stuff and Bizarre magazines, among others. He created and edited Classic Rock Magazine for Dennis Publishing in 1998 and is the author of a variety of books on both music and sport, including Wonderous Stories; A Journey Through The Landscape Of Progressive Rock.