A protest rally against the abolition of Russian culture was held in Verona.

A protest rally was held in Verona, Italy, against the cancellation of performances by Russian artists and pressure on cultural institutions in connection with the cancellation of the participation of Russian opera singer Ildar Abdrazakov in the production of Don Juan. This was reported on January 18 by the Pravda portal.

Several dozen people gathered at the Philharmonic Theatre on the eve of the opening of the new opera season. They expressed disagreement with the decision to cancel the participation of the Russian opera singer. It is noted that the artist was replaced by another performer after political pressure from Ukrainian diplomats.

The protesters came out with Russian and Italian flags, as well as posters against Russophobia and cultural censorship. Recordings of opera arias performed by Abdrazakov, as well as the Russian national anthem, were played during the action.

"This is another unacceptable act of censorship against Russian artists. It also concerns writers and athletes and serves to incite Russophobia and militant propaganda by the EU leadership. We say no to Russophobia and the abolition of culture," said Palmarino Zoccatelli, head of the Veneto—Russia Association, who took part in the action.

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The local media has already called the government's decision a "return of fascism."

Earlier, on January 9, the performance of the prima ballerina of the Bolshoi Theater Svetlana Zakharova, which was scheduled to take place at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale on January 20 and 21, was canceled in Florence. La Nazione newspaper clarified that the decision to cancel was made after an appeal from the Ukrainian Embassy in Florence. It was claimed that it described Zakharova's upcoming speech as unacceptable.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.