Ukrainian Foreign Ministry urges Rome Opera to cancel pro-Putin Netrebko’s performance – video

Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Anna Netrebko. Photo: Kommersant

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has called on the Rome Opera to cancel its planned programme featuring Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Twitter (X), as reported by European Pravda  

Details: In a video, the ministry highlighted why Anna Netrebko was not “apolitical”, as she claims. 

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The video provides examples of how Netrebko has repeatedly supported the Russian government and Putin personally. It also mentions her backing of Crimea’s occupation, her financial contribution in the spring of 2014 to the Donetsk Opera Theatre through Oleg Tsaryov, who at the time referred to himself as the “Speaker of the Parliament of Novorossiya” [this is how Russia tends to describe occupied territories of Donbas – ed.], and her public comments that suggest her condemnation of Russia’s war against Ukraine was not entirely sincere, indicating she is manoeuvring to suit her current interests.  

Quote from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “The artist’s years of support for Putin’s regime doesn’t stop the world’s stages from welcoming her. How can you enjoy the performance of a person-accomplice to Russia’s crimes?”

Russian Anna Netrebko returns to the stage of the Roman Opera.

The artist’s years of support for Putin’s regime doesn’t stop the world’s stages from welcoming her.

How can you enjoy the performance of a person-accomplice to 🇷🇺’s crimes?

📹 @United24media#NoStageForRussia pic.twitter.com/IYtO6BeLVr

— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) August 10, 2024

Background: 

• Earlier, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Italy urged the mayor of Rome and the director of the Rome Opera to cancel Anna Netrebko’s invitation to the production of “Tosca”.
• Following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Netrebko faced a boycott of her concerts in the West. She was also dismissed from the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

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