Milan, 15 July (LaPresse) – "There is a big problem with the 2025 “Un'estate da Re” festival. Valery Gergiev, the famous Russian conductor, has been invited to the event. He is a close friend of Vladimir Putin. Not just a friend. Not just a supporter. But also a promoter of Putin's criminal policy, his accomplice and sidekick." The issue of Gergiev's presence at the event held at the Royal Palace of Caserta was raised by Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Aleksey Navalny, in an article in the daily newspaper La Repubblica. 'Since the beginning of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Italian society and government have taken the only correct position towards Putin: condemning and rejecting his regime, his crimes and his war. And I want to appeal to Italians: be consistent,‘ writes Navalnaya, ’how is it possible that in the summer of 2025, three years after the start of the conflict in Ukraine, Valery Gergiev, Putin's accomplice and a person included on the sanctions lists of several countries, has suddenly been invited to Italy to participate in a festival? ‘Any attempt to turn a blind eye to who Valery Gergiev is outside his work as a conductor and to pretend that this is simply a cultural event in which there is no politics, that Valery Gergiev is simply a great artist, is hypocrisy,’ adds Navalnaya, ‘then the festival should be honestly called “A Summer of Hypocrites”, why be shy? Or perhaps the name of the “King” for whom Gergiev's concerts in Italy this summer will be welcome news should be printed directly on all the posters. His name is Vladimir Putin.’
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