Foreign Ministry denies Russian pressure over comedian concerts

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry has denied that official Russian pressure is behind the cancellation of a well-known Russian comedian’s performances in Kazakhstan. 

Maksim Galkin has publicly opposed Russia’s war on Ukraine. He also does comic impressions of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Galkin is married to the biggest Soviet pop star Alla Pugacheva, who has also refused to support the war. The couple currently live in Israel. 

Galkin was scheduled to perform in Astana and Almaty on 8 and 9 October, respectively. In the past few days both venues announced they were not able to host the actor for technical reasons. 

Foreign Ministry spokesman Aybek Smadiyarov on Tuesday denied reports that the concerts were cancelled at the request of the Russian embassy in Kazakhstan.  

“I have not heard of such a letter [requesting cancellation]. Even if there was such a letter, concerts are organised by our cultural bodies, and it is the public who decide which artists they want to see,” he said. 

“I think that art and culture should not be mixed with politics,” Smadiyarov added.   Performances by several Russian pro-war artists have been cancelled in Kazakhstan under public pressure since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

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