Protests resume in London against pro-Putin Russian opera star Netrebko

Ukrainians in London held another protest on Dec. 18 against upcoming performances by pro-Kremlin Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko at the Royal Opera House. The community has organized a series of demonstrations to draw attention to Netrebko’s support for Russia’s war against Ukraine.

“Tonight we were back outside the Royal Opera House. Inside — arias. Outside — the truth. People reacted differently: some rushed past with lowered eyes, others stopped, listened, and showed support,” wrote Ukrainian activist Yuliya Parashchenyuk.

Protesters said that when art whitewashes war, it is no longer art, and when an opera stage is used to silence the truth, it is a disgrace, not culture.

“Anna Netrebko on this stage is not just about music. It is about silence, money, and years of loyalty to a violent regime. There is no neutral culture during war. No stage for terror. No applause for whitewashing crimes,” Parashchenyuk said.

She said that the next demonstration outside the Royal Opera House is scheduled for Dec. 20.

Earlier, on Dec. 10, Ukrainians protested Netrebko’s performances in Berlin, opposing her performance at the Berlin State Opera. 

Protests against Netrebko’s performances have also taken place in Switzerland, Romania, and London. In August, fifty cultural and political figures from Ukraine and around the world urged the Royal Opera in London to cancel Netrebko’s invitation for its latest theatrical season.

Netrebko, a Russian with Austrian citizenship, is known for supporting Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin’s regime. In 2014, she posed with a flag of the so-called “Novorossiya” and expressed support for Luhansk and Donetsk militants. 

In 2023, Ukraine added the singer to its list of sanctions.