Russian singer Vika Tsyganova has attacked rapper Dzhigan following reports that he opened fire at his residence in the Moscow suburbs. Writing in a post on her official Telegram channel, Tsyganova condemned the hip-hop performer after he traveled to an elite Israeli rehabilitation center for medical treatment instead of being placed in a pre-trial detention facility.
Tsyganova addressed the controversy surrounding Dzhigan, whose real name is Denis Ustimenko-Vainshtein, after reports emerged that he had staged a shooting incident at his home in the Moscow region. She described the musician as a native of Odesa who wears a traditional kippah skullcap and accused him of being an ardent nationalist.
The singer alleged that Dzhigan had shot at people before entering rehab to avoid detention. She wrote that he had previously sung a Hasidic niggun religious melody, danced joyfully, and spent time around the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Israel during 2023, claiming he was now sitting in a kippah and allegedly praying.
Tsyganova also turned her criticism toward the country where Dzhigan sought treatment, asserting that Israel is becoming a criminal state. She added that the country gathers and protects what she characterized as fascist dirt.
Background and social media reaction
Vika Tsyganova is a long-established Russian musical artist known for performing pop and traditional chanson songs. Dzhigan is a prominent hip-hop artist who was born in Odesa, a major port city in southern Ukraine, and subsequently built a high-profile music career in Russia. Podmoskovye, or the Moscow region, is the oblast surrounding the Russian capital, while SIZO refers to Russia's pre-trial detention system.
The public comments follow intense social media backlash directed at Dzhigan after news reports surfaced claiming he had opened fire and taken hostages at his home. Following the outcry, several online commentators questioned the validity of the reports, suggesting that the entire incident and hostage claims might be fake.
