Russian authorities have opened a criminal case against two members of the Bloodhound Gang over apparently "inciting hatred" against the country.

The US comic-rockers provoked fury recently when playing in Ukraine after bassist Jared Hasselhoff stuffed a Russian flag into his underwear on stage.

Russia's Investigative Committee has now launched a criminal probe into the incident, with Hasselhoff - real name Jared Hennegan - and singer James Moyer Franks specifically named. They said:

"Moyer, Hennegan and other unknown persons entered a criminal plot aimed at disgracing Russian citizens and formed a criminal group to that end."

It has been reported that sentences resulting from being found guilty of any charges could see the musicians jailed for up to five years.

The Committee added that putting the two members on Russia's wanted list is "under consideration".

The group have already been banned from performing at a festival in Russia's Kuban region following the flag stunt.