Syarhei Syasitski, a resident of Vitsebsk, urged the local authorities not to issue a concert license to singer Viktar Kalina.
In December, 2014 Viktar Kalina, a Belarusian performer of ‘Russian chanson’, i.e. songs based on the themes of the urban underclass and the criminal underworld, visited the unrecognised Donetsk people’s republic and gave a concert.
On his website there are photos of him posing with a gun, waving a DPR flag, visiting graves of separatists. After his concert the singer stated his willingness to live in the ‘Russian world’. He also signalled his intention to promote its ideas in Belarus.
In his address to the authorities, Syarhei Syasitski stresses that in accordance with the Belarusian law, any activities propagating war or extremism pose a threat to national security. He also notes that Viktar Kalina calls our country ‘Belarashka’ [scornful nickname] on Facebook.
As of January 23, the executive committee did not receive any application for issuing a concert license to Viktar Kalina, the officials state. He is prohibited from advertising his event until the permission is given, they say. Mr Syasitski is calling on public servants to ban the concerts by Kalina at all.
