MOSCOW, June 9 (RAPSI, Maria Petrova) -  The Sverdlovsk Regional Court has rejected an appeal filed by Behemoth, a Polish rock band, against a court decision to deport the musicians  for breaching visa regulations, according to the court’s website.

Upon inspection, the immigration service found that the musicians had not obtained the work visas required for Russia. The musicians were arrested and taken to an immigration service detention facility.

On May 22, the Oktyabrsky District Court of Yekaterinburg ruled to deport the musicians and fined them 2,000 rubles ($58). They appealed the ruling before departure.
Behemoth, a popular Polish band, plays a mix of two extreme metal genres, black metal and death metal. They often use occult themes in their stage costumes and album designs, which is frowned upon by religious activists.

Earlier, the religious activists protested Behemoth’s performances in Moscow. They sent an appeal to Mayor Sergei Sobyanin complaining that the band’s concert program is full of offensive content.