Valery Gergiev: ‘The people who run Ukraine are spouting fascist slogans’

The conductor has given an avowedly patrotic, pro-Putin interview to a Russian magazine in which he justified the intervention in Ukraine and had this to say about the country’s revolution: Сейчас мы слышим откровенно фашистские лозунги. Они звучат на Украине из уст людей, которые уже почти пришли там к полному контролю над страной.

In plain English: ‘We are now hearing openly fascist slogans. They are coming in Ukraine from people who have almost complete control over the country.’

Photo: RIA Novosti/Lebrecht Music&Arts

In other comments, he appears to be advocating a return to East-West confrontation and repressive government:

‘The Cold War continues…. In Russia and in China today there is a desire not only to strengthen relations between the two countries, but in general, to create a more balanced picture, balance of power between East and West… China shows the world: attacks on them are punished, and punished, especially economically. Tough, uncompromising, ruthless, I would say, the principle is: you do not want to be friends – we do not want to give you any opportunity to grow rich at our expense.’

Interesting, considering that Gergiev’s Mariinsky company is sustained by income from the West. Must ask him about it some time.

Full interview here (in Russian). Would anyone like to translate?