Ukrainian diplomats boycotted Russian concert in Washington in protest against annexation of Crimea
In Washington, Ukrainian diplomats refused to attend the Concert for Unity, organized by the United States and Russia, in which musicians who supported the annexation of the Ukrainian Crimea participated, as posted on Facebook by the press service of the Ukrainian Embassy in the US.
It was noted that on November 13th, in Washington, there was a concert featuring Russian pianist Denis Matsuev, Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, and the Mariinsky Theater Symphony Orchestra. According to the embassy of Ukraine, the concert was organized by the Russian embassy together with non-governmental structures of the United States.
"We rejected the invitation to attend this concert ‘for unity.’ We consider it incorrect to link the ideals of unity with the personalities of Gergiev and Matsuev who have signed a statement in support of the Kremlin's policy on the occupation of the Crimea, especially regarding the situation with Russia's aggression against Ukraine," it is said in the report.
Ukrainian diplomats have noted that the "support of the event by some important American non-governmental structures creates a platform for Russian propaganda and manipulation by public opinion in the United States."
Human rights defenders have reported the strengthening of the persecution of Crimean Tatars in the annexed peninsula.