A public commission in Buryatia focused on wartime, labor, armed forces, and law enforcement has urged the Minister of Culture to cancel a planned tour by the singer Kristina Orbakaite. The demand was reported by a local publication that cited the action as a formal request from a regional civic body.
The central grievance centers on Orbakaite’s stated funding of Ukrainian armed forces, which the group described as a reason to halt the republic’s concert schedule. The public body argued that supporting forces seen as adversaries to regional interests contravenes local sensibilities and loyalty expectations. The call to cancel was framed as protecting the community from associations with what they characterized as a hostile regime.
Zhambal-Zhamso Zhanaev, a spokesman for the Martial Brotherhood organization, asserted that residents of Buryatia are deeply patriotic and maintain a negative view toward artists who oppose Russia. His comments reflected a broader sentiment among participants in regional cultural and political circles who emphasize national unity and support for government policies.
In December 2023, the Telegram channel Mash reported that Orbakaite would travel to the United States after a series of year-end corporate events. The channel claimed the trip to America could occur by the end of February and would be framed as a festive engagement. It also stated that the singer would later return to Russia and noted a reported price adjustment for corporate appearances, with a reduction of five hundred thousand rubles.
The exchange came amid broader public discourse on the responsibilities and loyalties of performing artists connected to regional audiences, with some figures suggesting that appearances should reflect aligned values. In related coverage, there were earlier discussions about whether public figures maintain ties with family members who live abroad and how these ties influence public perception, though no further substantiation was provided in the cited materials. (Cited material: Mash Telegram channel, December 2023).