Russia makes new protest to Italy in dispute over cancelled Gergiev concert

8/8/2025 6:25

Russia said on Thursday it had made a new protest to Italy in a dispute over the cancellation of a concert in Italy where Valery Gergiev, a renowned Russian conductor with a record of support for President Vladimir Putin, had been due to perform.



The concert near Naples was scrapped last month following a storm of criticism, including from the widow of late Russian dissident Alexei Navalny who called Gergiev an "accomplice" of Putin. Italy's culture minister had said the event risked becoming a "sounding board for Russian propaganda".



Moscow registered an initial protest on July 23, accusing Italy of discrimination, cancel culture and caving in to anti-Russian lobbying.



On Thursday, the Russian Foreign Ministry said it had summoned the Italian chargé d'affaires two days ago to complain about an "ongoing anti-Russian campaign" in Italy that it said was aggravating a crisis in bilateral relations.



The ministry said Italy had reacted disproportionately to what it called Moscow's rejection of "some odious statements by high-ranking representatives of the Italian government directed against Russia."