Concert Controversy: Russian Maestro's Italian Performance Cancelled Amid Political Pressures

Russia's Foreign Ministry has accused Italy of discrimination, claiming Rome caved to anti-Russian pressures after canceling a concert led by prominent Russian conductor Valery Gergiev. The performance was initially scheduled to take place near Naples.

Gergiev, who is the head of Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre and St Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre, faced objections due to his known support for President Vladimir Putin and failure to denounce Russia's war in Ukraine. Critics included some Italian politicians and anti-Kremlin activists like the wife of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The concert was to be hosted at the historic Reggia di Caserta, yet the event was abruptly canceled with limited explanation. Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova condemned the cancellation as 'discriminatory' and accused the Italian authorities of succumbing to Ukrainian nationalist pressures.

(With inputs from agencies.)