Bolshoi Ballet's Director Admits Purge Of Anti-War Performances, Artists

Vladimir Urin (file photo)

The head of Russia's legendary Bolshoi Ballet has acknowledged removing from the repertoire performances and artists linked to opposition to the invasion of Ukraine, which Russian censors describe as a "special military operation." Bolshoi General Director Vladimir Urin told the Rossiiskaya gazeta newspaper that the works of authors who "spoke very definitively about the special operation" had been excluded and their names removed from posters. He said such works provoked "letters and negative reviews." A cultural crackdown on the war's critics has been accompanied by other strictures across Russian society since the invasion began 18 months ago. To read the original story by Current Time, click here.