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Russian artist Morgenshtern plans to embark on a world tour this fall, with concerts scheduled across venues in Europe and the United States. In response, the digital community Strichka – co-founded by former Google Ukraine director Dmytro Sholomko – is calling on Ukrainians abroad and international allies to take a firm stance and boycott the artist’s performances.
Europe already has experience successfully countering Russian propaganda. Thanks to the active stance of Ukrainian communities and concerned artists, several performances by figures supporting the Russian government have been canceled. For example, public pressure led to the cancellation of a concert by the well-known Putin supporter, conductor Valery Gergiev, at the Royal Palace of Caserta in Italy. Similarly, in Bologna, community activism resulted in the cancellation of pianist Oleksandr Romanovsky’s performance after he drew criticism for playing in occupied Mariupol.
“In both cases, public pressure, the voice of Ukrainians, and the solidarity of the cultural community played a decisive role,” the statement on the Strichka project’s Facebook page reads.
Morgenstern (Alisher Valeyev) is not just a rapper with millions of followers on social media. He has long been an active figure in the Russian show business scene, which is closely linked to the state apparatus. Even after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, he has not made any clear statements in support of Ukraine, nor has he referred to the war as a war, acknowledged Russia as the aggressor, recognized Ukraine as the victim, or called for an end to the conflict.
Strichka urges Ukrainians living abroad and concerned foreign citizens to ask Russian rappers and all artists who take a similar stance questions such as, “Do you support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine?”, “Do you recognize Russia as an aggressor?”, “Do you condemn Putin?”, and “Whose is Crimea?”
What you can do:
- Check the posters in your city. Find out if Morgenstern’s concert is planned on event websites or concert hall pages.
- Spread the truth. Explain to your friends and acquaintances why this artist is not “neutral” but a silent accomplice. Share posts on social media.
- Engage the public. Join other Ukrainians and concerned citizens in your city, engage friends from the local community.
- Engage local authorities and the media. If possible, write a short appeal to local authorities and local media. They have the right to know who they are allowing on stage.
Don’t wait for the propagandist to take the stage in your city. Act now.
“As long as he remains silent, we will continue to support the legitimate efforts of Ukrainian communities across Europe aimed at disrupting and canceling Morgenshtern’s concerts,” the project representatives added. They concluded that there is no place in Europe, the US, or any civilized country that upholds social morals and self-respect for those who view the situation as ambiguous.
Strichka is a coordination platform and digital community whose mission is to unite active and concerned Ukrainians abroad who are ready to defend Ukraine’s interests.
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