Russian authorities have canceled the performance of a rock group at a Moscow festival after the lead singer dedicated a song to other artists who fled the country following the invasion of Ukraine.
Splean lead singer Aleksandr Vasilyev confirmed to Kommersant that his group would not be performing at the August 26 concert at a state-owned arena in the Russian capital.
Russia has been canceling dozens of performances around the country of artists who dare to express disapproval of the February invasion of Ukraine to prevent them from influencing the general population and weakening support for the war. Several artists have voluntarily chosen to leave the country or halt their tours since the launch of the invasion.
Kommersant noted that the cancelation of Splean differed from other cases as Vasilyev made no direction mention of the war in Ukraine or of Russia’s leadership.
Walking onto the stage in Voronezh in Central Russia on August 20, Vasilyev told the audience that it was a pleasure to see so many people who “show mercy, compassion, humanity, and who do not accept cruelty, violence and murder.”
He then dedicated the hit song, Vkhoda Net (No Exit), to other rock groups whose members fled the country earlier this year, saying he hoped they would return so “we can sing for you here.”
Splean’s performance was removed from the online broadcast recording posted on the Internet and rumors of the group's cancelation at the August 26 concert soon began to circulate. Splean was to be among the headliners at the Moscow concert.
“The group has been canceled, in essence, for words about mood and emotions, and not about what their cause is. And also for respect for their colleagues,” Kommersant wrote.