Oleg Mikhaylovich Gazmanov (Russian: Олег Михайлович Газманов; born 22 July 1951) is a Soviet and Russian singer, composer and poet, specializing in patriotic and nationalist songs, as well as songs which cover more conventional pop themes.
He is also a Candidate for Master of Sport of the USSR in gymnastics and is well known for his acrobatics performed during live shows, especially at the beginning of his musical career in the early 1990s.
New York Times claims he presented Lenin and Stalin as national heroes,[3] which however is not supported by the text which only lists them as part of a "Soviet country".
[4] It tells about "choking borders" where "(everything is) forbidden without visa" and urges for a feeling of community instead ("friends"), where "even Europe unified".
[10] Commenting on the Latvian Foreign Minister's decision, Gazmanov said, "This gesture right before the opening of the New Wave festival in Jurmala endangers the entire cultural and economic relations between our countries.