Ukraine/Russia: Top soprano singer, Russian artists on sanction list

The Ukrainian government has placed top  Vienna-based opera singer Anna Netrebko, dozens of Russian artists and public figures on a sanctions list.

This reporting was according to a decree published by the president’s office. The announcement listed big names from the world of opera, film and pop music amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Netrebko,who has come under fire for being too close to the Kremlin and too uncritical of Russian President Vladimir Putin. In February last year, Netrebko said she was opposed to the war. “I am Russian and I love my country but I have many friends in Ukraine and the pain and suffering right now breaks my heart.”She added that forcing artists and other public personalities to give their political opinions in public and to denounce their homeland was not right.

Philipp Kirkorov

Nikita Mikhalkov

The sanctions list also includes Russian pop star Philipp Kirkorov and actor and director Nikita Mikhalkov, winner of awards from film festivals including Cannes and Venice.

Reports state that Netrebko and 118 others, including three Ukrainians, will have their assets in Ukraine frozen. The sanctions will be in effect for 10 years. Ukrainian media also reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revoked the citizenship of 13 clergy members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church at the end of December. It was not known who the individuals are.

Traditionally, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has had close ties with Russia and only broke away completely from Moscow after the Russian
invasion started last February. The leadership in Kyiv sees the church’s links to Russia as a threat to the country’s security.

BBC/S.O