After cancellations in the United States, pro-Kremlin violinist Vadim Repin is now attempting to perform in Sofia. As a reminder, the Ukrainian community in the U.S. has already succeeded in canceling his performance in Florida: following pressure from pro-Ukrainian activists, the Palm Beach Symphony removed the violinist from its program, replacing him with Valentin Mansurov. It has now emerged that the artist, associated with Kremlin propaganda, may appear on a European stage. In response, the Ukrainian community in Bulgaria, diplomats, and the international initiative Arts Against Aggression are calling to prevent the creation of a new platform for Russian cultural influence. Read more in a special feature by Vilni Media contributor Dmytro Smelyanskyi.
Several days ago, the Bulgarian analytical and information portal Faktor announced, that the newly appointed Minister of Culture of Bulgaria, Nayden Todorov, personally invited Putin's propaganda violinist, Vadim Repin, to perform in Bulgaria and even planned to conduct his performance with the Sofia Symphony Orchestra.
Journalists from Faktor also learned that three weeks ago, the Ukrainian embassy in Bulgaria sent a letter to the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nadezhda Nayinski, calling for the cancellation of the concert featuring the pro-Putin artist. Up to this point, Bulgarian diplomacy has not responded to the Ukrainian side. The only response to their appeal was the replacement of Nayden Todorov with Australian conductor Nicholas Milton. Repin is still listed as the soloist.
Yesterday, the international movement Arts Against Aggression has published open letter to the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria and the Sofia Philharmonic, calling for the cancellation of the performance by the pro-Putin violinist. The letter notes that due to his ties to the Kremlin, Vadim Repin's performances were recently canceled at the Maggio Musicale theater in Florence, and a joint concert with the Mannheim Philharmonic Orchestra was also called off In the U.S., the Palm Beach Symphony replaced Vadim Repin with a local violinist.
Read also: Arts Against Aggression Calls for Cancellation of Vadim Repin Concert in Florida
An investigation by Arts Against Aggression revealed that since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Belgian and Russian citizen Vadim Repin has received over 100 million rubles from the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives for his projects in Russia. His wife, Svetlana Zakharova, a member of the United Russia party and trusted representative of Putin, received the same amount. Both have repeatedly performed at Kremlin propaganda events and before participants of the so-called "Special Military Operation."
Commenting on the cancellation of his performances, Repin said: "Of course, it is unpleasant. And not so much for us, musicians, since we were immediately invited to perform in other theaters and cities. First and foremost, it is unpleasant for the audience who bought tickets and were waiting for the performance."
“Other theater” is the Sofia Philharmonic. What explains this persistence of the pro-Putin violinist, so generously paid in Russia, in his attempts to break through to the West? The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted in its report that in 2026, due to economic problems, the Kremlin is forced to cut benefits for participants of the Special Military Operation by 25%, while simultaneously increasing funding for "propaganda" by more than 50%. Unable to achieve victory in its "special military operation" on the battlefield, the Kremlin is focusing on the propaganda front, including concerts of its artists abroad as part of a "special cultural operation."
Why has Sofia been chosen? Parliamentary elections will take place in Bulgaria on April 19. There is a surge of pro-Russian, anti-NATO, and anti-EU politicians vying for power. Moscow anticipates that the new government will alter its course and align with the Orban-Fico coalition. The Kremlin is dispatching its cultural envoy to Sofia to 'build bridges' and whitewash the image of the Russian regime. Moscow is using a well-rehearsed tactic: First comes the "Great Russian Culture," and then come the Russian boots.
Over more than four years of war, the Kremlin has already "lost" its most important art generals. As a result of a coordinated campaign by Arts Against Aggression, Ukrainian communities, diplomats, and European activists, politicians, and journalists, pro-Putin propagandists such as Yuri Bashmet, Igor Butman, Vladimir Spivakov, Sergey Polunin, Denis Matsuev, Ildar Abdrazakov, Valery Gergiev, and many others have been banned in the West.
Vadim Repin remains one of the few pro-Putin artists of such rank who still has Western engagements. That is why it is so important to achieve the cancellation of his performance in Sofia.
Additionally, the campaign for cancellation always sparks heated discussions in Western media about the unacceptability of using art to normalize criminal regimes, reminding Europeans that the war in Ukraine is not over, and also exposing Russian agents and "useful idiots."
Author: Dmitry Smelansky
