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Over the past three years, concert halls, museums, and literary venues across Central Asia have repeatedly cancelled events involving Russian and other foreign artists following criticism linked to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The pattern, visible in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, shows organizers navigating political pressure, social media outrage, and shifting notions of neutrality.

Early Cancellations After the Invasion

The cancellations began soon after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. In Kazakhstan, singer Polina Gagarina’s Valentine’s Day concert in Almaty was withdrawn after protests over her appearance at a pro‑Kremlin rally celebrating the annexation of Crimea. The same year, Uzbekistan cancelled the “Zhara” music festival, citing the participation of Russian artists who had publicly supported the war. Among them were Grigory Leps, who had stood on stage with President Vladimir Putin at a Moscow rally, and Olga Buzova, who had performed for Russian troops in occupied territory.

In subsequent months, countries across the region pulled shows by Leps following his televised offer to pay one million rubles to Russian soldiers who destroyed Western tanks in Ukraine. Kyrgyz activists argued that his presence would undermine their government’s neutrality and reward calls for violence, while ticketing companies quietly removed his concerts from sale. In Bishkek, the Ministry of Culture blocked rapper Alisher Morgenstern from performing at Alga Fest, citing obscenity and legal troubles in Russia. The Russian punk band Pornofilmy, which opposes the war, said its own concert in the city was cancelled after venue staff received security warnings.

Public Petitions and New Targets

By 2023, public mobilization had entered the picture. In Kazakhstan, over 18,000 people signed an online petition that led promoters to cancel the Russian comedy troupe Kamyzyaki after its appearance at a government‑organised concert in occupied Donetsk. Two years later, in 2025, another petition targeted rapper Timati, who had voiced support for Russia’s war. His performances went ahead, but the episode marked a rare formal space where citizens challenged foreign artists on political grounds.

Gaza Comments and Literary Fallout

The conflict in Gaza brought new flashpoints. In July 2025, Uzbek organisers cancelled a planned literary evening with Russian‑Israeli author Dina Rubina after outrage over remarks she made in an interview suggesting that Israel was justified in destroying Gaza. The transcript, later disputed by both interviewer and writer, spread online before her Tashkent event page vanished and ticket portals shut down. Box offices in Almaty and Tbilisi confirmed that her scheduled appearances there were cancelled as well.

Taiwan Exhibition Closure

Political sensitivities have extended beyond Russia and Gaza. In September 2025, Kazakhstan’s Central State Museum cancelled a contemporary art exhibition titled Shifting Grounds, featuring Taiwanese artists. The museum cited “urgent reconstruction,” but art media later noted that other events continued in the building. Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused China of interference, while Kazakh officials maintained the issue was logistical. The exhibition never opened, and the works were rerouted to other venues.

Quiet Decisions

By late 2025, cancellations continued under more opaque terms, such as the removal of Russian singer Akmal’s concerts “for reasons beyond control” and uncertainty over whether pro‑Ukraine singer Valery Meladze would be allowed to tour. Promoters describe a region where announcements vanish without explanation and event calendars shift overnight, leaving artists, audiences, and institutions guessing what will survive long enough to take the stage.

Central Asia’s concert halls and museums are navigating new boundaries. Over the past three years, dozens of events have been cancelled after artists’ statements about Ukraine, Gaza, and Taiwan drew protests or pressure.

Read the full story on Mimeta Memos: Central Asia’s Unstable Cultural Calendar
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