Cancel Putin’s Conductor

On July 27, 2025, conductor Valery Gergiev was scheduled to perform at the Un’Estate da RE festival in Italy—his first appearance on a Western stage since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Gergiev is one of Putin’s closest allies and personal friends, a trusted mouthpiece who has supported every one of Putin’s decisions and refused to condemn the war.

Allowing him to perform in Europe is unacceptable. ACF demands his concert be canceled.

Victory!

Gergiev's concert has been cancelled! This close friend of Putin and supporter of his war will not perform on a European stage.

Publicly supported the campaign

Peter Gelb

General Director of the Metropolitan Opera, USA

Alessandro Giuli

Italy’s Minister of Culture

Carlo Calenda

Leader of the Italian party Azione

Mara Carfagna

Member of the Italian Parliament

Pina Picierno

Vice-President of the European Parliament

700 Nobel laureates and intellectuals

July 21, 2025

The concert was canceled!

Thanks to our collective efforts, Gergiev’s concert in Italy was called off. This close friend of Putin and supporter of his war will not perform on a European stage.

July 15, 2025

Italian culture minister backs ACF

Alessandro Giuli

Minister Alessandro Giuli said: «Art is free and not subject to censorship. But propaganda, no matter how talented, is something else entirely. A concert by Putin’s advisor risks sending the wrong message».

July 15, 2025

Yulia Navalnaya’s op-ed in La Repubblica

 La Repubblica’s front page

Yulia Navalnaya’s op-ed in La Repubblica: On the front page, she urged Italians to cancel Gergiev’s performance: «Yes, Gergiev is a great conductor. But history shows that great artists can also be villains, using their reputation to shield brutal regimes. Gergiev is such a case».

July 11, 2025

Met Opera chief condemns Gergiev

Peter Gelb

Peter Gelb told Die Welt: «When local officials claim this is a cultural exchange, even indirectly financed with EU funds, even though the alliance is against Russia, I can only repeat: This is cultural propaganda in Putin’s name. And it must be stopped».

July 10, 2025

ACF petitions Italian ministries

Excerpt from the ACF petition

Our lawyers formally requested the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of the Interior to cancel the concert and bar Gergiev from entry for threatening public order and security.

July 8, 2025

Italian activists protest

Associazione dei Russi Liberi social media

Activists sent an open letter to the regional governor of Campania, calling Gergiev not just a musician but a propaganda tool of Putin’s regime. A petition was launched.