Vladimir Spivakov denounces Belarus leader
mainThe Russian violinist has issued a thunderous denunciation of the Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko, one of Putin’s old associates. Lukashenko has just rigged another election and Spivakov, 75, is throwing back a national honour he awarded him.
Here’s the text:
Alexander Grigorievich!
In 2014, you awarded me the Order of Francisk Skaryna for special merits in the field of humanitarian and charitable activities, success on the basis of national-state revival, in protecting human dignity and the rights of citizens of Belarus. Apparently, at that time these concepts were still close to you. Today, I still share these values, but not with you, the ruler, who created living conditions for his people incompatible with humanism and democracy.
Today, your “holiday” is dominated by obscurantism, tyranny, violence and endless examples of extreme cruelty, with which the authorities suppress the will of many citizens throughout the country.
Over the decades of active concert activity, I was fortunate enough to perform many times both in Minsk and in other cities of Belarus. Recently, the 10th anniversary of the Vladimir Spivakov invites festival, which I created, was celebrated, thanks to which outstanding artists of the world, renowned ballet troupes, and unique choral groups came to your country.
Today my heart beats in unison with the people of the Republic of Belarus, rightfully demanding the observance of elementary rights and freedoms, including the right to peaceful protests. Therefore, in this situation, I am forced to give up the order that you previously awarded me. I am ashamed to wear it, as it is related to your rule. Your “black” strength is your great weakness. People are born to be loved, not humiliated, and even more so, maimed.
You’ve probably heard that “those who weep will be comforted”? And so it will be!
People’s Artist of the USSR
Artist of Peace (UNESCO)
Vladimir Spivakov
Just wait, Pu-supporters got new directions. Popcorn for Gergiev/Matsuev chameleon cry.
I’m not a Putin supporter, he is a complete fake. I’m a Stalin supporter as is 70% of Russian population. Matsuev makes me projectile vomit.
How about Putin’s medals? Don’t they burn his chest?
Nothing really burns Spivakov’s chest, Katia. All this is political posturing, nothing else.
“Today, I still share these values, but not with you, the ruler, who created living conditions for his people incompatible with humanism and democracy.
Today, your “holiday” is dominated by obscurantism, tyranny, violence and endless examples of extreme cruelty, with which the authorities suppress the will of many citizens throughout the country.”
He has not looked out of his window in Moscow to see exact same things.
By cruelty Spivakov means that in Belarus one cannot go to a public school or a kindergarten and inform the kids how much they are missing by not engaging in anal sex.
The biggest homophobes are often the ones who themselves have suppressed inclinations in that area.
I assume you’re a long time Russian citizen, mike? You would know of course
It has nothing to do with politics. Some people have a need to betray for the sheer pleasure of betrayal. In Russia they betray Russia, when they emigrate to USA they form organizations like Russian Americans against Trump. Soros was selling out Jews to the Nazis, now he is betraying the entire humanity.
Keep the reflex antisemitism to a minimum if you expect to be taken seriously, sir.
Actually Joel, the antisemite here is you for implying that only Jews are capable of betraying for the sake of the sheer pleasure of betrayal. I’ve never thought that, let alone ever said that. Gorbachev is Russian and this genetic mutation occurs in all nations.Serial killers kill and traitors betray, it’s what they do.
Where was the antisemitism, Joel? Is it not true that Soros was selling Jews to Nazis? Not only he stated it himself, but also was proud of it!! Or maybe you do not know that Soros is actively betraying humanity every minute of his miserable life? And that is true too. Maybe you do not want to take me seriously? But I am a Jew!! So, you have to!
I’m mostly Ashkenazi Jew with some exotic admixtures. Actually lost half of my family to Bandera nazis in Ukraine.
Actually that theory (following a 60 Minutes segment) has been widely denied and debunked – Soros was only a nine-year-old boy in Hungary when WW2 broke out, and in any case it seems that he never betrayed fellow Jews to the Nazis. Blaming George Soros for everything going wrong in the world is a widespread anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that has also ironically lately been adopted by some extreme right-wing non-anti-Semites (and indeed some Jews). Not that it has got much to do with music and this site.
………..another Fox News aficianado….
You think, John, that a CNN/MSNBC aficionado sounds better?!? Sounds way more stupid!
Anti-semitic troll. Or Russian bot. Which is it?
What`s with this antisemitism drivel? Where I work nobody gives a flying fk even if I was antisemite. Plenty of the history`s greatest geniuses were ardent antisemites. Ever read Chopin`s letters?If you knew the kinda things I`ve seen, you would laugh at yourself for trying to scare me into conformity by calling me an antisemite on a forum for conservatory-trained bio-robots whose testosterone level is that of a 12 yr old girl. By pretending of having this omnipotence you only play into the hands of true antisemites.
Anti-semitic troll.
Got it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VDr434wxb90&fbclid=IwAR1jgdSg8cIfYyYVSSaB0pj3lkuHhneXlYYtGNwjQBays-_h3eY2TDkbE9w&app=desktop
Most people, as you can see, Occamsrazor, do NOT approve of your statement. It hurts them. But it hurts because it is 100% true.
Brilliant
Brave man.
So, back in 2014 he didn’t know that Lukashenko is a dictator? It took him only the last days actions to realize what’s happening in Belarus for decades??? Hypocrite!
Credit to him now, but yes, Lukashenko wasn’t any better back in 2014.
You are right, Eric, Spivakov IS a hypocrite! Real artists rarely mix with politics. But Spivakov was always close to USSR/Russian government circles. He is not different from Gergiev or Matsuev or Bashmet. It is all very unfortunate but it is the truth.
Gergievmatsuevbashmetspivakov hydra makes me puke not only because they are political whores but because they are mediocre musicians at the top of their form. Real geniuses like Sokolov or Pogorelic would never lower themselves by playing politics. Horowitz never uttered a negative word about the USSR either even though he had plenty of legitimate reasons to loathe it.
Maybe he will finally get taken by the authorities for disrespecting the deadly virus along with Lukashenko.
Apparently insight comes with the years.
Better late than never.
Isn’t there a flagrant cognitive dissonance implied in this letter? Mr. Spivakov denounces tyranny and oppression in Belarus while signing himself a People’s Artist of the long defunct Soviet Union. Last time I checked, the Soviet Union was never a charitable or humanistic institution…
Bravo, Rafael!!
I saw him do the Shostakovich Rayok in the presence of a drunk and inadequate Yeltsin, and I felt as if he was waltzing with DSCH’s dead body. So I will not say anything at all — not positive, which might have been in place, not negative, and not even neutral. Let the Russians sort themselves out among themselves.
Be careful IP. These days “silence is violence”!!
Well said, Volodia!
Self-promoting violinists who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw bricks. Vladimir Spivakov is a back-stabbing, arrogant, manipulative, shameless, Soviet-trained opportunist. He has no conscience whatever, he’s a 2nd rate violinist, a 3rd rate wannabe conductor, and a coward. His shallow musical talent is best suited for weddings and Bar Mitzvah’s.
Pag, unlike Gidon Kremer, or like Kremer?
“Well. you can’t expect perfection … ” B. Shaw, “Man and Superman”. Not every drawer of horsehair over catgut is a Paganini. And here I was, expecting Helene’s Pag to be Pagliaccio.
Famed musician’s photographer Christian Steiner encouraged the not so modest Spvakov to disrobe during a photo-shoot, and he willingly complied. I’ve seen the photos – Hubba-hubba!
I know Christian Steiner very well and he would NEVER in million years suggest anything unethical during a professional photo shoot engagement. He is 100% German.