In Kazakhstan, concerts of Russian comedian Maxim Galkin were canceled “for technical reasons.” According to Novaya Gazeta. Europe, technical problems suddenly arose at the venues where the artist was supposed to perform.
On September 30, the management of the central concert hall “Kazakhstan” in Astana announced technical work to repair the water supply system, and on October 1, the Palace of the Republic in Almaty reported a breakdown of the stage.
Concerts of the Russian comedian were supposed to take place in Astana on October 8, in Almaty on October 9.
Galkin has already stated that his concerts in Kazakhstan are being prevented “at the state level”, and performances are being canceled under far-fetched pretexts. According to the artist, his team has been trying to organize concerts for many months, but constantly faces opposition from officials.
After the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many cultural figures who expressed their anti-war position left Russia. In particular, actor and TV presenter Mikhail Shats, singer Alla Pugacheva and TV presenter Maxim Galkin, singer and composer Andrei Makarevich left the Russian Federation.
In Russia itself, artists with an anti-war position are not allowed to perform. Thus, the play “The Gin Game” with actress Liya Akhedzhakova in the title role was removed from the repertoire of the Moscow Sovremennik Theater. Theater director Yuri Kravets said that he was “literally inundated with angry letters addressed to her.” Akhedzhakova openly criticizes Russian President Vladimir Putin for the invasion of Ukraine.
Artists who oppose the war in Ukraine are cut out of TV series. Thus, Ivan Urgant and Maxim Galkin were cut out from the film “Edward the Harsh. Tears of Brighton,” and Maria Mashkova was cut out from the Russian series “Operation Throne” on the Rossiya channel, in which she played the main role.
At the same time, in Kazakhstan, the tour of the Russian KVN team “Kamyzyaki” (“Team of the Kamyzyak region in KVN”), whose participants performed in the Russian-occupied territory of the Donetsk region of Ukraine, was previously canceled. One comedian concert was to take place in Almaty, two more in Astana.