Belarus’ Philharmonia cancels Holocaust Remembrance Day concerts after report about their allegedly being linked to protests
The Belarusian State Philharmonic Hall has canceled concerts dedicated to the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in light of a complaint made by a ‘concerned citizen’, Radio Svaboda reports.
The concerts entitled Yellow Stars were scheduled for January 20 and 22, 2022. However, the plans were scratched after some Ivan Nikifarau sent the e-mail to the Belarusian Ministry of Culture of Belarus on November 30:
“The so-called projects Yellow Stars, Endtitles Are Not Yet Here and others are presented as charitable, but in fact the funds raised go to supporting opposition organisations (such as the Hrodna Hospice); the cultural workers who participated in illegal rallies are involved in them <…> One should put an end to such activity in all state-run concert organisations, not only in Minsk, but also in other cities.”
The Ministry of Culture forwarded the letter to the philharmonia officials, asking them to ‘resolve the situation’. As a result, on December 2 it became known that they cancelled Yellow Stars concerts at the Belarusian State Philharmonic.
Such performances have taken place in Minsk and other Belarusian cities since 2018.
