Russia accuses Italy of discrimination after it cancels pro-Putin conductor Gergiev concert

MOSCOW, July 23 (Reuters) - Russia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday accused Italy of discrimination and said it had caved into anti-Russian lobbying after a planned classical music concert by high-profile Russian conductor Valery Gergiev was cancelled.

Gergiev, who heads Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre and St Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre, had been expected to lead an Italian orchestra and soloists from the Mariinsky at a concert near Naples on July 27.

Read more on the original article. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-accuses-italy-discrimination-after-it-cancels-pro-putin-conductor-gergiev-2025-07-23/