Plumbing and stage repair
Across Astana and Almaty, concerts by Russian artist Maxim Galkin were canceled amid ongoing repairs and safety concerns. Reports from the Astana portal Kazakhconcert and the news agency TASS, based on statements from the Palace of the Republic administration in Almaty, note that performances planned for October 8 and 9 were not going to take place in the halls due to renovations. The cancellations affected the Kazakhstan Central Concert Hall, which hosts many major events, as crews addressed infrastructure upgrades and stage safety requirements. According to Kazakhconcert, the venues anticipated renovations that would prevent performance activities during those dates.
From October 4 to October 10, 2023, the utility operator Arnasy, also known as Astana Vodokanal, conducted technical work on water supply networks in the city. This disruption prompted Kazakhconcert to announce that all events at the Kazakhstan stage would be canceled within that window in order to maintain safety and service reliability for attendees and staff. Galkin had been scheduled to perform on October 8 at this venue as part of his tour in the region.
The Palace of the Republic in Almaty issued a notice about a two week period of technical maintenance beginning on October 1. Officials cited problems with stage mechanics and indicated that work on the Republic Palace would pause the schedule. Galkin’s concert set for October 9 was thus affected by these developments, alongside broader venue concerns that required refurbishment and safety enhancements before performances could be considered again.
Cancellation of other concerts
Galkin shared his thoughts on social media about helping to renovate the halls, posting from his account on Instagram. He mentioned that tickets for the two concerts had already sold out, highlighting the audience demand and the impact of the disruptions on fans in both cities. The post reflected a sense of urgency and a desire to see the audience enjoy the live experience once the venues could safely reopen.
In a contemporaneous note, Galkin explained that an earlier August show in Astana was canceled in connection with Teachers’ Day. He later suggested that Kazakh authorities had imposed what he described as an almost silent ban on his performances within the country, a matter that drew attention to the broader cultural and political environment surrounding his appearances. The cancellation of his Tallinn engagement in September 2023 was later followed by a plan to stage three concerts in Estonia in February 2024, signaling a sustained international touring strategy despite successive postponements and venue concerns.
Departure from Russia
In the spring of 2022, as a response to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, Galkin and his family relocated to Israel. This move followed a period when authorities in Russia scrutinized the artist for alleged offenses related to reputation damage to the military. Subsequently, Galkin was added to a foreign agents list for engaging in political activities. His wife, Alla Pugacheva, later sought similar recognition on the grounds of shared influence on public discourse.
In May, the couple returned briefly to Moscow to participate in a farewell for fashion designer Valentin Yudashkin. Later reports indicated that Galkin and Pugacheva obtained Israeli citizenship and settled in the Tel Aviv area. A September photograph shared on Instagramshowed the couple on a quiet beach, underscoring a period of personal and professional transition as they adapted to life in a new country. The evolving residence and status highlighted how cultural figures navigate international mobility amid shifting regional dynamics.