Vyacheslav Komissarenko

Slava Komissarenko is a Belarusian stand-up comedian born on July 27, 1985, in Minsk. He is one of the most-followed Russian-language stand-up performers in the world, with over 1.4 million YouTube subscribers. Komissarenko rose to prominence through Russian television comedy programs in the 2010s, but became equally known for his fierce political satire targeting Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko and the authoritarian regime. After the 2020 protests in Belarus he was banned from performing in Minsk and placed on a wanted list, forcing him to leave the country.

Komissarenko moved from Minsk to Moscow in 2008, initially performing in the comedy duo "Conscience" with Dmitry Nevzorov. He went on to appear on major Russian TV comedy formats including "Laughter Without Rules" and "Comedy Battle." After Belarus's 2020 post-election protests, his satirical commentary on Lukashenko turned his career into a political act. He fled first to Ukraine, then Turkey, then the Czech Republic, eventually obtaining a US talent visa. In April 2025, Russia revoked his naturalized Russian citizenship at the initiative of the FSB, citing his anti-war statements made during performances abroad. A Belarusian court sentenced him in absentia to six years in prison in December 2024 on charges of defaming the president and inciting hatred. His TikTok account has amassed 1.7 million followers. His comedy blends sharp political observation with personal storytelling, delivered in Russian for diaspora audiences worldwide.

Despite being sentenced in absentia in Belarus and stripped of Russian citizenship, Komissarenko performs prolifically in emigration. He has completed multiple North American tours with sold-out dates in Chicago, San Francisco, Washington DC, and other cities. His European tour schedule for 2025-2026 includes cities across Latvia, Lithuania, Germany, and Poland. He maintains one of the most active touring schedules of any Russian-language comedian abroad.