Dutch rapper wins court battle to terminate Russian military service contract
A Danish citizen who moved to Russia has won a court case to terminate his service contract with the Russian Defense Ministry after getting deployed to Ukraine, Russian outlet Mediazona reported on Aug. 22.
Nicklas Hoffgaard, 33, arrived in Russia in the summer of 2023, intending to live in the country due to his disagreement with "European values." He’s a supporter of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, dissatisfied with "the worsening political climate" in Europe.
According to the report, Hoffgaard received a residence permit valid until October 2023. As his permit was nearing expiration, he approached the Russian Defense Ministry, hoping a military service contract would help him obtain citizenship.
Hoffgaard's lawyer explained that he believed he could serve by guarding Russia's borders in Siberia or working as an English translator. However, he was sent to the front lines instead. Hoffgaard did not know the Russian language and did not understand the document he signed. He did not want to fight in Ukraine, according to his lawyer.
“I never joined the Russian army out of a desire to fight or make money,” said Hoffgaard.
“I was trying to find a legal way to stay in Russia while my residence permit was being processed.”
Later, Hoffgaard was attached to a unit near occupied Luhansk in Ukraine that dealt with drones. He complained that he was forced to drink vodka, had his phone confiscated, and was accused of espionage by his fellow soldiers.
In addition, according to Hoffgaard, he was bullied by Nepalese soldiers in the Russian unit, to the point of being beaten once.
Hoffgaard wanted to demobilize in 2024 after a year of service, but he was told that a new law made the contract indefinite, and he could not leave. In the spring of 2024, Hoffgaard took his case to court.
The Moscow Garrison Military Court initially denied his request, but the 2nd Western District Military Court later declared the contract invalid, Mediazona reported.
Hoffgaard's name had not previously been disclosed, but the case file on the court's website records him as “Nicklas Hoffgor.” The journalists found him under the name Nicklas Hoffgaard — he is known in Denmark as the rapper Stanley Most, who retired from the music industry in 2018.
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