Putin’s cellist is banned in Austria
NewsThe cellist Sergei Roldugin, one of Putin’s closest friends and reputedly his money launderer in Panama, has lost his contract with the Brucknerhaus in Linz.
Roldugin, who is head of the House of Music in Saint Petersburg, has established a regular Tuesday series for himself and his musicians in the Austrian city.
The Brucknerhaus has issued this statement: ‘We will immediately end existing and planned engagements by artists and ensembles who publicly defend the Russian approach, regardless of their nationality.
‘Since this war is not being waged with the consent of the entire Russian population, Russian artists and orchestras must not be held in group custody. On the contrary, anyone who campaigns for peace and therefore takes a great personal and professional risk in their home country deserves our unreserved support.’
Excellent. May more follow this example.
Bravo, Brucknerhaus, to recognize and value the genuine risk that artists in Russia must accept in order to object publicly to the Kremlin’s heinous actions. And greater kudos and thanks to the thousands of ordinary Russians now incarcerated for publicly expressing their objections.