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International Activists Demand Cancellation of Vadim Repin’s Concert in Bulgaria Over Kremlin Ties
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
International activists have called for the cancellation of Russian violinist Vadim Repin's scheduled performance at the Sofia Philharmonic in Bulgaria. The open letter was published in response to Repin's upcoming concert, set for May 2026.
This was reported by Artists Against Aggression on March 24.
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Repin, a renowned Russian musician, is accused by the activists of being closely associated with the cultural policies of the Kremlin. In their appeal, the activists demand that the performance be called off, citing Repin’s long history of involvement in state-sponsored cultural initiatives in Russia and his receipt of funding from Russian government-affiliated state funds linked to the presidential administration.
This is not the first time Vadim Repin’s concert has been canceled due to his ties to the Kremlin. In February, the Mannheim Philharmonic faced pressure over its association with Russian cultural figures, leading the orchestra to cancel a planned performance by the Russian violinist, following an official appeal from the Ukrainian Embassy in Germany.
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The Ukrainian Embassy sent a letter to the mayor of Mannheim and event organizers, highlighting Repin's long-standing involvement in Kremlin-backed cultural initiatives. The letter also pointed out that since the war’s onset, Repin has continued to receive awards and financial support from the Russian government.
Initially, Mannheim city authorities maintained that the concert was a private event and beyond the scope of government regulation. However, after receiving the embassy’s letter, the Philharmonic acknowledged the concerns raised by the Ukrainian community in Germany. Ultimately, the Philharmonic decided to cancel the concert, reaffirming its commitment to supporting Ukraine.
“Since the Mannheim Philharmonic has been actively supporting Ukrainian victims of the war for many years, we have taken this request with the utmost seriousness and respect. After extensive internal discussions, we unanimously decided to honor the wishes of our Ukrainian fellow citizens here and cancel the concert. It was important for us to consider the perspective of the Ukrainian community following this direct request,” the Philharmonic stated.
The same occurred in Florida, where the Palm Beach Symphony and the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts canceled a scheduled concert featuring Russian violinist Vadim Repin, as reported by Vilni Media USA. The concert, originally planned for March 2, was set to take place in the US.
Arts Against Aggression further emphasized that while Repin does not hold an official government position in Russia, unlike his wife, Svetlana Zakharova, he has been actively involved in Kremlin-backed propaganda initiatives.
The movement pointed out that Repin had received significant financial support from the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, a key Russian propaganda institution. Furthermore, following the revelations of war crimes in Bucha in April 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded Repin the title of People’s Artist of Russia, and the violinist has participated in several official Kremlin events, including concerts for Russian military personnel, during the 2024-2025 period.
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At the same time, Russian ballerina Svetlana Zakharova has been dropped from the lineup of an upcoming dance gala. This decision follows the ongoing controversy in Italy regarding the participation of Russian artists in cultural events amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Previously, she served as a deputy in the Russian State Duma from 2007 to 2015 as a member of the pro-Kremlin United Russia party.
