Putin’s Ally, Not Don Juan

On January 18, 21, 23, and 25, 2026, Teatro Filarmonico in Verona will stage Don Giovanni, with Ildar Abdrazakov in the lead role. We demand that Abdrazakov be removed from the cast because of his public support for Vladimir Putin, who started the war against Ukraine.

Ildar Abdrazakov: Who He Is and Why It Matters

• A vocal supporter of Vladimir Putin and his official representative in the 2024 Russian presidential election.
• Head of the Sevastopol State Opera and Ballet Theatre in Russian-occupied Crimea, helping to normalize the annexation of Ukrainian territory.
• Close to Putin and a member of the newly created Presidential Council for Culture. Performs at major propaganda events organized by the Russian authorities.
• Regularly receives state awards and personal praise from Putin, and is used by the regime as a symbol of “cultural support.”

“Culture Above Politics”?

Many still try to ignore the fact that some “cultural figures” openly support Putin. But let’s be honest: Ildar Abdrazakov holds his positions only because of his unquestioning loyalty to the Kremlin. He directly benefits from Putin’s machine of war and repression. Through his actions, he helps justify and sustain Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

We demand that Ildar Abdrazakov be removed from the cast of Don Giovanni in January 2026, replaced by another performer, and never invited to perform in Europe again.

We also urge Italian cultural institutions to carefully vet invited artists for public support of the war or involvement in institutions that legitimize Vladimir Putin’s criminal regime.

Why Now

Verona plans to open its “Mozart January” season with Don Giovanni starring Abdrazakov—an attempt by Putin’s ally to return to the European stage.

This is an important comeback for him: in 2024, he was dismissed from Teatro di San Carlo, and all his European performances were canceled. Yet he continues to pursue opportunities in Europe.

Notably, he owns a villa on the Ligurian coast in Italy.

We’ve already proven that public pressure works: thanks to a campaign by the Anti-Corruption Foundation and Italian activists, Valery Gergiev’s concert in Italy was canceled. 

We are determined to achieve the same result again.

How To Help

1. Subscribe to campaign updates — receive all news and updates about the campaign and FBK’s work.

2. Spread the word on social media — use our campaign visuals and materials.

In English:

In Italian:

Contact Teatro Filarmonico directly — tag their accounts on Instagram, Facebook

3. If you are a journalist, we encourage you to reach out to Fondazione Arena di Verona management about Abdrazakov’s participation:

• Superintendent Cecilia Gasdia: sovrintendenza@arenadiverona.it

• Artistic Director Cecilia Gasdia: direzione.artistica@arenadiverona.it. Or via their social media accounts: Instagram, Facebook.

For questions or comments about our campaign, contact us at: info@acf.international

Facts and Sources

• Schedule of Don Giovanni (Verona, January 2026) with Abdrazakov in the lead role.
• Abdrazakov joined Putin’s Presidential Council for Culture.
• Abdrazakov became head of the Sevastopol State Opera and Ballet Theatre — listed as artistic director on the theatre’s official website.
• Photo of Abdrazakov among Putin’s authorized representatives during the 2024 election.
• Statement by Abdrazakov regarding the cancellation of his previous performances in Europe.
• Ildar Abrazakov about why he became an authorized representative of Putin