Overview

• Caserta Royal Palace organizers cancelled the July 27 concert amid concerns over planned protests by Ukrainian groups.
• Italy’s culture ministry had warned that hosting Gergiev could turn the performance into a Kremlin propaganda forum.
• Julia Navalnaja called for the cancellation in La Repubblica, and the Nawalny team applauded the directorate’s decision.
• Gergiev’s representatives said they were surprised by the abrupt cancellation and received no formal explanation.
• The Russian Embassy in Italy condemned the move as a concession to political lobbying that undermines the country’s credibility.