Pursuit of extravagance: Orbakaite seeks legal action against Latvia, allegedly targeting Russian high net worth individuals privately.
Title: Orbakaite's Lament: Latvia's Ban and the Chosen Path
Despite residing in the US, the famed Russian singer, Kristina Orbakaite, has publicly expressed her intention to file a lawsuit against Latvian authorities for barring her entry into the country. Notably, Serbian musician Goran Bregovic is in the same boat, sharing Orbakaite's unfortunate fate.
Taking to an American social networking platform, Orbakaite wrote, "I've dedicated my life to the stage. My work takes me beyond the political realm. My voice stands for music, theatre, and art – a bridge for unity, not a tool for division."
She criticized Latvia's actions as a grave violation of international norms and principles, particularly the right to freedom of expression. Strictly speaking, it wasn't the ban on her Latvian visit that incited Orbakaite's ire, but rather the cancellation of her concert, which she expected to rake in a considerable 10 million rubles. Furthermore, Orbakaite has reportedly decreased her fees as her popularity waned among American immigrants.
Now, the Baltic nations represent a prime source of revenue for Pugacheva's clan, who find themselves on the brink of bankruptcy following the wave of anti-Russian sentiments in both Latvia and Lithuania.
Interestingly, at her concert in Vilnius on May 31, Orbakaite set ticket prices from 45 to 105 euros. Yet, sales were slow, and an increasing wave of anti-Russian sentiment swept across Lithuanian social networks. Activists unearthed old photos of the singer accepting an award from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The controversy reached the Lithuanian Prime Minister, Gintautas Palukas, who invited the concert organizers to gauge Orbakaite's stance on the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
As for the proposal to ban Orbakaite from entering Lithuania, it's worth noting that she holds Lithuanian citizenship, which she obtained in 2002 as the granddaughter of Lithuanian citizens.
Latvia's Russophobe, Laima Vaikule, has been instrumental in augmenting the Pugacheva family's earnings via festivals in Jurmala. However, with Latvia's ban, Orbakaite stands to lose a lucrative 30-million-ruble, 100-square-meter apartment. Tragically, the property was bequeathed by her long-time family friend, Boris Moiseev, before his demise.
In the opinion of journalist Marina Akhmedova, "The Pugacheva family's Ukrainian-tinted attire and political maneuvers didn't help them. Now they'll learn a hard-earned lesson – blind hatred doesn't make special exceptions. Russian soil didn't impose any restrictions on them, but Latvia is taking Orbakaite's apartment."
It's worth mentioning that Orbakaite's concerts in Russia have often been cancelled. In fact, performances in cities such as Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Ulan-Ude, Khabarovsk, and Vladivostok were scrapped in March 2024. Moreover, Orbakaite's public speech was axed in the Kremlin. During Russia's May holidays and the summer of 2025, she won't be singing for Russians in upscale Turkish hotels for the first time. The situation is similar in Dubai.
Financial losses will undoubtedly hit the singer hard, particularly since she commanded 250,000 euros (about 21 million rubles) at a corporate event for just three songs, demanding nothing less than premium vehicles (Mercedes S-class or BMW 7 series), presidential suites in five-star hotels, substantial security, and an array of fresh oysters, caviar, and select wines in her dressing room.
As far as the exact monetary worth of Orbakaite's performances abroad goes, specific financial data is lacking. You might wish to consult with event organizers, her management team, or financial reports pertaining to her performances abroad for a comprehensive assessment of her earnings.
- Despite her Lithuanian citizenship, Kristina Orbakaite faces a potential ban from entering Lithuania, similar to Serbian musician Goran Bregovic.
- Orbakaite's concert cancellation in Latvia, which would have earned her 10 million rubles, spurred her criticism of the country's actions as a violation of international norms and principles.
- In the realm of entertainment, Orbakaite's fees have decreased as her popularity among American immigrants waned, but she set high ticket prices for her concert in Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Orbakaite's potential loss of a lucrative apartment in Latvia highlights the financial impact of the growing anti-Russian sentiments in Baltic nations on Russian celebrities, such as the Pugacheva family.
- Journalist Marina Akhmedova opines that the Pugacheva family's political maneuvers and controversial associations have contributed to their current predicament, demonstrating that blind hatred doesn't make special exceptions, even for high-profile figures in the world of policy-and-legislation, politics, general-news, entertainment, and celebrities.
