Dozens of young Russians gather in a St Petersburg square and defy Vladimir Putin in full voice.
What they are doing is illegal and risks his wrath.
It is an unsanctioned musical performance of a banned anti-Kremlin song, written by an exiled musician.
"I want to watch the ballet, let the swans dance," they sing.
"Let the old man shake in fear for his lake."
Video footage of the performance posted online shows the loud and proud defiance, led by the underground rock band, Stoptime.
The song is called Co-operative Swan Lake, in reference to the famous ballet, which became a symbol of the Soviet Union's collapse in the early 1990s.
The lyrics also reference the Lake Cooperative, a notorious gated community and holiday spot for Russian President Vladimir Putin's inner circle in north-west Russia.
Co-operative Swan Lake was banned in Russia in May, but millions still listen online.
It was written by anti-war rapper Noize MC, real name Ivan Alekseyev, who left Russia for Lithuania in 2022 and has since been named a foreign agent by Russia's Department of Justice.
Noize MC told the ABC the song was his most "extremist" hit so far.
"This song is subject to the maximum amount of 'sanctions', and you could probably get into serious trouble for it," Alekseyev said.
Sure enough, when a video of Stoptime's cover went viral, three members of the band were arrested.
They were charged with organising a concert that obstructed pedestrian access to a subway and sentenced to between 12 and 13 days behind bars.
Lead singer Naoko, whose real name is Diana Loginova, may face further charges when released.
If the band keeps performing anti-Kremlin music, they risk being jailed for up to 15 years.
Soviet precedent for Kremlin's crackdown
Putin is not the first Russian leader who has tried to silence underground musicians.
In the mid-1980s, Moscow outlawed rock bands like Black Sabbath, Kiss and homegrown acts such as Aquarium.
The band was founded in 1972 by a man dubbed the godfather of Russian rock: Boris Grebenshchikov.
Grebenshikov, or BG, as he is known in Russia, told the ABC he never set out to be a protest artist.
"The thing is, in Soviet Union at that time, there was official music that was honestly banal and not really interesting to me, because it had to go through the old kind of censorship," BG said.
He described the censors as "really not very interesting people".
"They were not interested in creating something real, and they were afraid of consequences," he said.
"And so you learn how to go around this."
BG got around it by creating music he wanted to listen to, which happened to be illegal.
Aquarium was banned in 1984, but they kept playing anyway.
"I mean, that's Russia for you," he said.
"There's all these laws that nobody cares about."
BG still tours the world, but he can no longer sing at home after he was classified as a foreign agent, which forces him to obey certain restrictions or face penalties.
It is a weapon increasingly wielded against outspoken Russian artists.
Increasing danger, but growing popularity
Under laws passed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, criticising the actions of Russian authorities abroad can attract prison sentences of up to 15 years.
Some anti-war musicians, like BG and Noize MC, have moved overseas, while others have tried to find ways around the censorship.
Despite the danger, insiders have told the ABC the underground music scene has grown, and musicians have become symbols of resistance in Russia.
Stoptime announced an indefinite suspension of future performances, but Russians online have encouraged them to continue once released.
"It always starts with a student performance! God bless you!" wrote one commenter on their video.
"As long as there are such young people, the country has a chance," posted another.
Now, Russians are posting their own videos online, singing in support of Stoptime.
In trying to silence the singers, the Kremlin has helped others find their voice.
