Russian People’s Artist Dmitry Nazarov and his spouse Olga Vasilyeva have been dismissed from the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater. The order of dismissal was issued by the theater’s artistic director, Konstantin Khabensky, according to reports from mk.ru.
The cited reason for Nazarov’s dismissal centers on his public comments about Russia’s military operation in Ukraine and alleged anti-Russian sentiments. The decision followed what Khabensky described as attempts to engage the actor in private dialogue, which did not yield the needed change after Nazarov appeared in a widely viewed interview on YouTube in which he criticized Russia. Vasilyeva, who shares Nazarov’s public stance, was also dismissed from the company.
Earlier this year in Nizhny Tagil, the premiere of the play Root of Love, featuring Nazarov and actress Olga Vasilyeva in leading roles, was canceled. The production had been scheduled for February 1. mk.ru reported that the cancellation was issued by Ticket 96 LLC, the event organizers.
Ticket 96 LLC explained that the cancellation stemmed from public reactions in the city to the actor’s statements about Russia’s special operation and mobilization in Ukraine. Residents expressed dissatisfaction with the comments, which influenced the decision to halt the performance.