The Linz director Dietmar Kerschbaum justified the initiative by Sergej Roldugin, “one of the closest friends of the Russian President”: “The concerts of the ‘Russian Tuesdays’ series can no longer take place.”
He and his staff expressed their horror at the “military attack” on Ukraine ordered by President Vladimir Putin. “In these terrible hours, our thoughts are with the people of Ukraine who are falling victim to a war of aggression in violation of international law, the likes of which Europe has not experienced for more than 75 years. Our concern and our solidarity are with them,” it said in a written statement.
But not only the cooperation with St. Petersburg was stopped, existing or planned engagements of artists who publicly defend the Russian approach are to be ended – regardless of their nationality. However, Kerschbaum also made it clear that there was no “kinship liability”. “Anyone who works for peace and thus takes a great personal and professional risk in their home country deserves our unreserved support.”
Source: Nachrichten
