Overview
- Thomas Anders reiterated on Thursday that he immediately rejected a recent offer to tour Russia and will not perform there because he cannot condone the attack on Ukraine.
- He said his decision is guided by a personal moral compass and that performing in a country that attacked its neighbor is unacceptable to him.
- Anders cancelled a planned 2022 Russian tour after the invasion and says he still receives and declines regular concert requests from Russia.
- He expressed sympathy for Russian fans, noting some can travel to shows in Kazakhstan or Turkey but that most cannot afford or access those options.
- Anders’s stance reflects a broader pattern of artists avoiding Russia since 2022 and he framed a return as contingent on a change in Russia’s top political leadership and foreign policy.