Protesters carried Bulgarian, Ukrainian and European flags. They also held placards depicting a violin dripping with blood against a backdrop of destruction caused by Russia’s war in Ukraine — a symbol, according to the demonstrators, of the visiting violinist’s complicity with the regime in Moscow, which they accuse of committing war crimes. One of the placards bore the slogan: “Putin — murderer, Repin — accomplice”, the Bulgarian publication Factor.bg reported.
Vadim Repin was awarded the title of “People’s Artist of Russia” by Vladimir Putin in April 2022. His wife is Svetlana Zakharova, prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theatre and a former member of the Russian State Duma representing the United Russia party.
According to Factor.bg, several altercations broke out between protesters and concert-goers.
The event was organised by the Bulgarian Agrarian People’s Union with the support of the Arts Against Aggression. Representatives of the Association of Ukrainian Organisations in Bulgaria Mother Ukraine also took part in the protest.