Russian media, including a VKontakte social media account purporting to belong to Kanye West, said on June 30 that the always-controversial American rapper is in the Russian capital.
There was no official word from West of the visit.
Images shared on social media show the 47-year-old music and fashion superstar, born Kanye Omari West but now known as Ye, at the Four Seasons in Moscow and a handful of other places.
The VKontakte page and other media suggested the purpose of the visit was to celebrate the 40th birthday of street-fashion designer and reported acquaintance Gosha Rubchinsky.
It said it was a private visit and no concerts were planned.
"Kanye West is already in Moscow! This is great news, he is staying in the heart of the capital," Russian state news agency TASS quoted local music producer Yana Rudkovskaya as saying, in an allusion to rumors that spread weeks ago suggesting West would perform in Russia.
A mercurial pillar of the global hip-hop scene since his debut studio album in 2004, West has repeatedly surprised with political statements and appearances that have gotten him into trouble.
His statements, including praise of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler and a seeming denial of the Holocaust, have contributed to the demise of collaborations with Adidas and others.
West has expressed praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin in the past.
