Dancer Polunin: Russian Foreign Ministry "bent" before Uzbekistan

The dancer Sergei Polunin accused the Russian Foreign Ministry of not allowing him to perform a number at a concert on Red Square in Moscow on the occasion of the annexation of Ukrainian Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk and Lugansk regions.

The day before the concert, which took place on September 30, Polunin announced on Instagram that he was first invited to dance under the song of the singer Shaman “Stand”, dedicated to Russian soldiers who died in Ukraine, but then they canceled the number without explanation. After the concert, the dancer also stated on Instagram that, according to him, the ban on the performance came from the Russian Foreign Ministry, which received a complaint from the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan. “Guys, I defended you,” the artist emotionally turned to Russian officials, accusing them of “bending”. Earlier, he said that he should perform at the concert, as he is a native of Kherson.

A few days ago, Polunin performed with the same number in Tashkent. The number chanting the participants in the war against Ukraine caused the indignation of a number of officials of Uzbekistan. According to Radio Azattyk , Uzbek officials in response to the charges of a Russian artist, placed on social networks, commented that Polunin was warned for giving up the framework of the conditions agreed in the resources agreement. The new accusations of Polunin in the Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan and the Russian Foreign Ministry did not comment.

The song "Stand" at a concert in Moscow sounded, it was performed by a shaman, but without accompaniment Polunin. The shaman also sang the anthem of Russia, played at him by Vladimir Putin. The most striking event of the concert, judging by the responses in social networks, however, was the performance of the actor and priest Ivan Okhlobystin, who called the war in Ukraine the "sacred" and shouted "Goyda" several times.

Polunin, a former citizen of Ukraine, received Russian citizenship in 2018. “Russia has always been and is good for me, I am very happy to become a Russian citizen and take a position against evil and unscrupulous people who create revolutions in Ukraine, Georgia and other countries,” he wrote, commenting on a new passport, and said that he expresses support to Russian President Vladimir Putin, behind which the dancer “sees the truth”. Polunin has several tattoos with the image of Putin.

Polunin from his youth was a soloist of the royal ballet in London, subsequently moved to Russia. Now he is the director of the Sevastopol Opera and Ballet Theater, which currently does not have a building and a permanent troupe.