Security Analyst Questions Philip Kirkorov’s DPR and LPR Trips
A prominent security analyst, Vitaly Borodin, who leads the Federal Security and Anti-Corruption Project, voiced strong skepticism about Philip Kirkorov’s ability to rehabilitate his public image through visits to the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republic regions. In an interview with Tsargrad.tv, Borodin suggested that third parties with financial stakes pressed the singer to join these trips, and he warned that the Russian military would not accept any gifts from the artist. These remarks shaped a broader narrative in which participation is viewed as controversial and potentially exploitative rather than beneficial to public perception. [attribution: Tsargrad.tv]
The activist went further, stressing that equating people’s republics with acts of performative undertakings would be a mistake. He argued that Kirkorov would struggle to regain audience attention simply by traveling to those territories, emphasizing that the move would fail to translate into lasting public support or renewed concert interest. [attribution: Borodin interview discussion]
Borodin elaborated that the front-line units of the Northern Military District, along with security forces and volunteer detachments, are highly cognizant of the dynamics at play. He asserted that none of the actors involved would derive any tangible benefit from such visits, including public statements. According to him, all forms of aid or gifts related to these trips carry a stigma, and he labeled the artist himself in harsh terms. [attribution: Borodin statements]
Tsargrad’s correspondent Yegor Kholmogorov noted that some artists travel to Donbass not for strategic publicity, but guided by a sense of personal conviction. In his assessment, performers such as Yulia Chicherina, Vadim Samoilov, Yaroslav Dronov (Shaman), and Roman Bilyk (Monsters) have cited heartfelt reasons behind their past engagements, rather than calculated PR moves. [attribution: Tsargrad columnist remarks]
This context followed Kirkorov’s appearance at a major music awards ceremony in St. Petersburg, where he performed after a prior controversy. In the wake of a separate controversy involving a blogger, a promotional poster for the Golden Gramophone event was altered, removing the influencer’s name from the material. The implications of these developments continue to spark discussion within entertainment and public affairs circles. [attribution: event coverage]
Earlier, Kirkorov’s ties to sanctions discussions related to Australia were referenced in public discourse, highlighting how political and cultural actions can intersect with international policy perceptions. [attribution: public discourse coverage]