Cancellations Across Cities Tied to Public Sentiment And Logistics

Cancellations In Vladivostok And Beyond

The mayor of Vladivostok, Konstantin Shestakov, advised organizers to cancel planned performances by Kristina Orbakaite and Diana Arbenina. The concerts were scheduled for March 19 in Vladivostok and February 27 elsewhere. The advice was reported by TASS citing the mayor’s press service.

In a formal statement, the Vladivostok city administration said that the mayor initiated a letter to concert organizers urging the cancellation of these shows. The move came after consideration of the broader public mood and current circumstances surrounding the events.

The push to cancel was linked to a call from the all-Russian popular movement Cultural Front of Russia, which urged cancellations of events in Vladivostok that honored military glory. Officials explained that the final decision rests with event organizers who must weigh all factors and public opinion.

On February 5 the Vladivostok Municipal Control Center addressed questions about officials not cancelling Orbakaite’s Vladivostok concerts. The MCC noted that approval from the mayor is required only for events with free admission that do not feature these performances.

The Ministry of Culture and Youth Policy later clarified that Orbakaite is not officially listed as a foreign representative and that her artistic repertoire complies with applicable laws. The same clarification was given when Arbenina’s concert was discussed for cancellation.

Cancellations In Other Cities

Sergei Zaitsev, who organized Orbakaite’s appearances, told TASS that the singer’s shows in Blagoveshchensk and Khabarovsk were postponed indefinitely. Those performances were slated for mid and late March.

Zaitsev explained that ticket holders would keep their seats valid and added that the trial cancellations across several cities led to logistical challenges for remaining tour stops.

Earlier on February 5, Hovhannes Tukhmanyan, who organizedOrbakaite concerts in Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk, announced postponements of shows planned for March 7 and 12 to later dates. It is anticipated that the artist will perform in Irkutsk within a year. The cancellations were attributed to difficulties in executing the shows as scheduled.

On January 26, Tukhmanyan revealed that the Chita concert planned for March 14 had also been canceled due to insufficient travel options to reach the venue comfortably. Earlier, on January 19, organizers cited social activist pressure and canceled a demonstration in Ulan-Ude where Orbakaite’s Encore program had been slated for March 13 at a local sports complex.

Concerns About The Artist

The Ministry of Sports and Youth Policy of Buryatia commented on the cancellation of the Ulan-Ude event by noting that Orbakaite is not a foreign agent and that her activities on Russian soil are not officially banned. The ministry added that the decision was made after considering the views of residents and public organizations in Buryatia, resulting in the concert not taking place at the local sports complex.

In January, a local head of a veterans organization in Buryatia said social activists urged cancelation of the Ulan-Ude show, accusing Orbakaite of funding the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The expresses that Buryatia residents support keeping out artists who oppose the country were shared by community leaders.

The artist’s director later commented that the cancellation of the Ulan-Ude concert was unclear and that Orbakaite had participated in New Year’s programs on federal channels. The reason for the cancellation remained undisclosed.

Why Concerts Are Being Canceled

Reports indicate that Orbakaite presently remains in the United States with her spouse and child, returning to Russia periodically for performances. There are unverified claims that she holds American citizenship.

Following the start of the conflict, Orbakaite posted a message criticizing military actions, which was later removed. In the wake of the February 2022 events, Arbenina released a song deemed anti-war in Russia. In 2023 the head of a security and anti-corruption project requested Prosecutor General’s Office to investigate the singer for alleged discrediting of the Armed Forces. In the previous year, several Arbenina performances across multiple cities including Ulan-Ude, Cheboksary, Ulyanovsk, Kazan, Tolyatti, Pyatigorsk, Krasnodar, Kuzbass, Yoshkar-Ola, Saratov, and Tomsk were canceled.

These developments reflect a broader context in which public figures increasingly face scrutiny and cancellations tied to political and national sentiment. The rail, air, and logistics challenges cited for some eliminated dates also contribute to shifting tour plans. It remains common for organizers to re-schedule or cancel appearances in response to public opinion, safety considerations, and regulatory guidance while concert arrangements are weighed against local expectations and national conversations about culture and identity.

At each turn, officials emphasize that decisions strive to balance artistic freedom with public sentiment and legal considerations. The ongoing discussion underscores how public events can become focal points in national conversations about patriotism, media representation, and the role of artists within society. This dynamic continues to shape tour calendars and the futures of many performances across the country. (Source: TASS attribution implied.)