Overview
- Thomas Anders, who declined a Russian tour offer Thursday, told WELT’s MusikerGrillen he immediately refused and called the invasion of Ukraine something he cannot endorse.
- Anders said his decision rests on a 'moral compass' that forbids performing in a country that attacked its neighbor.
- He described how state messaging in Russia, which framed the war as a 'military operation,' led some fans to initially not understand his refusal but said many now accept his stance.
- Anders expressed sympathy for ordinary Russian fans who are not responsible for government actions and noted only a minority can travel to nearby countries like Kazakhstan or Turkey to see concerts.
- He said contacts in Russia still try to persuade him to perform and argued that change must come at the top of Russia’s political leadership and in its foreign-policy outlook.