TV presenter of Ukrainian TV channels closed by the OSCE decision, Diana Panchenko, not being afraid of “dictator Lukashenko”, will host the annual festival taking place in Vitebsk, in which not only Ukrainian, but also many Russian artists refuse to participate for political reasons.
Panchenko reported this on her Facebook page, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“I’m going to the Slavic Bazaar. Yes, to Vitebsk, yes to Belarus. She was honored to open the festival as a presenter together with colleagues from Russia and the Republic of Belarus. I am sure that art and music should remain outside of politics. I know that some colleagues and artists refused the trip. Although Ukraine took part in the festival for 30 years, won and shone. Yes, the political situation has changed. But the people remained the same. It is to them that we are going. To people. I do not live in Belarus and I believe that I have no right to evaluate the events in this country. But I am sure that the aggravation of relations will not benefit either us or the Belarusians,” the TV presenter wrote.
Let us note that this year many artists refused to participate in the festival, many of whom were announced for last year, when the concert was postponed due to the pandemic. Among the Ukrainian performers, this is the singer MARUV (Anna Korsun), who was announced as the headliner of one of the night gala shows.
The media note that immediately after information about Korsun’s participation in “Slavic Bazaar” appeared, her social networks were filled with angry comments demanding that she abandon the tour.
Also, due to the “politicization” of the event, Alexander Ivanov, the frontman of the Rondo group announced last year, refused to participate.
In addition, showman Mikhail Galustyan was among those who categorically refused to perform on the stage of the Vitebsk amphitheater. Singers Anita Tsoi and Stas Piekha do not confirm or deny the information about their participation.
At the same time, Diana Panchenko herself comes across calls in her comments to come to her senses and “boycott Lukashenko’s dictatorial regime.”