Vadim Repin is a violinist who 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.
His performance in Budapest had been scheduled for 4 June. He was due to appear in concert alongside Hungarian pianist János Balázs. The concert poster announcing Repin’s performance can still be seen on the website of the Hungarian ticket operator.
According to activists from the international organisation Arts Against Aggression, the Russian musician’s name disappeared from the poster on the same evening that protests were held in Sofia over Repin’s performance at the local philharmonic hall on 14 May.
Hungarian violinist Zoltán Bácsy-Schwartz was subsequently listed in the programme in place of the Russian musician.
Repin’s next performances are scheduled for 22 July at Suntory Hall in Japan and 6–7 November at Maryland Hall in the United States. Activists are calling for these concerts to be cancelled.