Dear Organizers of “Celebrity Gala” and Pattihio Theatre management,
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the participation of dancers from Russian state theaters in the upcoming Celebrity Gala in Limassol. Given the ongoing, brutal war of aggression waged by the Russian state against Ukraine, their inclusion in a European cultural event is not only inappropriate but also deeply insensitive to the suffering of millions.
While the arts are meant to transcend politics, it is crucial to recognize that Russian state-funded cultural institutions, including its theaters and ballet companies, have long been used as instruments of soft power to whitewash the actions of the Russian regime. Many of these institutions and their artists have openly supported or remained complicit in the ongoing war, while countless Ukrainian civilians, including artists, have been killed or displaced due to Russia’s unprovoked invasion.
By allowing state-affiliated Russian performers to take the stage in Europe, your event risks sending a message of indifference toward the atrocities committed in Ukraine. It undermines the collective efforts of the international community to isolate the Russian war machine and contradicts the fundamental values of peace, justice, and solidarity with victims of aggression.
I urge you to reconsider this decision and instead support artists who uphold values of freedom and human dignity. There are numerous talented Ukrainian and other international dancers who would be far more fitting choices for such a prestigious cultural event.
I anticipate your objection that “art is beyond politics.” I have heard it many times before. However, I could not disagree more with this statement. Art is ALWAYS political. No artist has ever lived outside of society. Art is a reflection of the artist’s life, which is inevitably shaped by political realities.
By choosing to ignore the ongoing brutal Russian aggression against Ukraine—an aggression that has claimed countless civilian and military lives—your selection of artists also becomes a political statement.
I urge you to familiarize yourself with the recent resolution of the European Union on “Russia’s disinformation and historical falsification to justify its war of aggression against Ukraine.”
https://www.europarl.europa.
I trust that you will reflect on the implications of this invitation and act in accordance with the principles of responsibility and solidarity that the European cultural space should uphold. I look forward to your response and hope that you will take this matter seriously.
Sincerely,
Ksenia Mukhortova
President of the Community of Ukrainian-Cypriot Friendship