Several months have passed since Philip Kirkorov’s controversial moment on stage, and human rights advocates continue to urge accountability for what they describe as an offense against the sensibilities of many believers. Anticipating legal action, the press secretary for the People’s Call movement stated that authorities declined to file a criminal case against Kirkorov, citing the absence of a criminal incident. The group initially submitted its complaint on August 15, and the local police officer signed off on the refusal two days later, according to reports from socialbites.ca.
The People’s Call organization asserted that the controversial performance was approved by the Kitay-Gorod Ministry of Internal Affairs, a claim that suggests an official endorsement of the incident despite widespread backlash from Orthodox Christians and Muslim communities across Russia who opposed the show’s banning in the Caucasus region. A spokesperson emphasized that the action warrants serious scrutiny and argued that the response amounted to a public affront to Russian citizens and to Kirkorov himself. The group said it would challenge the police decision by appealing to the head of the Investigative Committee to request a reexamination of the high-profile event.
In parallel, another application, filed earlier in May, also faced a refusal from authorities after a similar investigation period. This initiative appeared to involve members affiliated with the Tsargrad center for human rights. The deputy head of that organization noted that police had considered the matter and again chose not to open a criminal case. A representative for Tsargrad stated that they had forwarded the police decision to the Kitai-Gorod prosecutor’s office for appeal, and reiterated calls for Kirkorov to be held accountable because there had been no public apology or financial penalty announced.
Kirkorov’s case has also drawn the attention of the Forty Sorokov movement. Georgy Soldatov, who coordinates the organization’s legal wing, informed socialbites.ca that Moscow’s research center is conducting an expert analysis of the incident. The official end date for this examination had not been announced, and details were not provided by MIC or socialbites.ca at the time of reporting.
During late April, Kirkorov took to the stage with a performance billed as an Anniversary Show, presenting a number described as a “Golden Hit in the State Kremlin Palace.” The act featured the artist appearing in the form of a large cross during the performance of the song Mary Magdalene, a moment that sparked intense debate among Orthodox audiences. Following the controversy, Kirkorov issued a public apology on social media for any offense caused, stating that his intention was not to insult religious sentiments. He also explained that his choreography was a story of fantasy and stressed that his remarks were not intended to attack Christianity or any other faith. He added that religious shrines hold deep meaning for him and that he respects believers deeply, even as he acknowledged the sensitivity of the moment and offered sincere apologies to anyone hurt by the performance.