Performance by Pet Shop Boys at a concert in support of Kremlin critic Navalny called off
Scoop: Berlin's Navalny Tribute Concert Cancelled
Prepare yourself, folks, because the anticipated tribute concert for the late Russian dissident, Alexei Navalny, that was set for June 28th in the heart of Berlin has been scrapped! The renowned British band, Pet Shop Boys, shared the bummer news through their online channels, explaining they received this info straight from Team Navalny. No pin on who or what exactly caused this cancelation, but the whole shebang confounds us all.
The show was supposed to rock the Uber Eats Music Hall in Berlin-Friedrichshain and feature both Russian artists and a live chat with Navalny's widow, Julia Navalnaya. Furthermore, this event would've marked the first Alexei Navalny Award presentation.
Pet Shop Boys dished out a statement from the organizers, revealing they had to terminate the event due to unspecified circumstances. Fear not, friends! The award ceremony's plan still stands, just pushed to a later date. Gonna get those ticket refunds and reimbursements for travel and accommodation costs sorted, too.
The Week's Whispers: Why the Concert's Cancelation?
The rumor mill has been churning with speculations about the cancelation's reasons. A well-known human rights activist, Olga Romanova, expressed her thoughts on "The Breakfast Show" by exiled journalist Alexander Pljushew. She suggested that security reasons might be lurking, given the increased pressure on the Russian opposition in Europe as of late. Unfortunately, this bash in Berlin won't happen, and its absence has Olga feeling quite a deep disappointment.
On the other hand, a Russian-language Telegram channel named Sota raised the possibility that the response to the concert was simply too low, prompting organizers to cancel it to dodge material damage. Seems like discounted tickets were up for grabs before the cancelation announcement.
Meanwhile, amidst all this, Julia Navalnaya expressed her intention to lead the opposition after her husband's demise. Yet, the cancelation of the concert seems a tad contradictory to that ambition. The Russian exile opposition seems to be in a rough patch of disagreement altogether.
Navalny's last breath was taken on February 16th, 2024, in a Russian labor camp. Regarding the tribute, Pet Shop Boys recently released a track in his memory, titled "In Memoriam Alexei Navalny." The British pop duo unveiled three versions of the song, including a "Dance Mix" studded with excerpts from Navalny's prison letters and his book "Patriot."
- Despite the cancellation of the tribute concert for Alexei Navalny, the first Alexei Navalny Award presentation still plans to take place, albeit on a later date.
- While speculations about the concert's cancelation reasons abound, a well-known human rights activist, Olga Romanova, believes it might be due to increased pressure on the Russian opposition in Europe.
- Amidst the cancelation of the Berlin concert and the Russian exile opposition's apparent disagreement, Navalny's widow, Julia Navalnaya, has expressed her intent to lead the opposition movement following her husband's passing.
