The Leningrad group and Sergei Shnurov will give a concert in Moscow’s Luzhniki in September. The press release states that the performance will be “one-time only and does not imply a return to regular concert activity.” However, there is a nuance.
Without advertising to the general public, Shnurov has already confirmed Leningrad plans to perform this November in Dubai. In the current conditions, any foreign tour can only cause joy from failed attempts to cancel Russian culture. We have a decision by the organizers to bring Shnurov to a Muslim country, which is famous for conservatism and intolerance of attacks on traditional foundations, raises a number of questions. The first of which is why should Russia quarrel with the Arabs over such a stupid issue? Second: is a group that openly ridicules the St. Petersburg governor worth the efforts of the Russian Foreign Ministry? And thirdly, does Sergei Shnurov really need to go to an Arab prison?
The fact is that the UAE constitution implies an extreme degree of intolerance towards any violations of Muslim morals. Among them – alcohol, drugs, indecent behavior, foul language and nude show nature. In other words, in the Emirates, it seems, it is strictly prohibited the entire concert rider of “Leningrad”from the first to the last line. Violators face up to 5 years in prison. So what is the organizer trying to achieve?
History knows many examples of how zealously the Arab world protects its culture and how sharply it reacts to any attacks on conservative Muslim values. Now, during a period of extreme aggravation of the international situation, the last thing Russia needs is another scandal, which, apparently, is very likely – well, just It’s hard to imagine that “Leningrad” in its entirety is going to Dubai to read Barto’s poems from the stage and perform “Katyusha”. Such a “cultural landing” – whose performances, by the way, are already banned in a number of Muslim countries – can deprive Russia of an ally that has not yet succumbed to the provocations of Western countries. What will happen to bilateral relations when the Arabs are offered “go n****”, “become a p****som”they will tell about the mysterious Russian “fucking woman” or start promoting the thesis “only a bribe, only vodka”? Everything can change very dramatically, and it is not even necessary to translate it into English.
Are relations between two countries worth one concert of, frankly speaking, not the most popular band? We don’t know whether the producers and the musicians themselves think about this. However, in Russia there are thousands of artists who are ready to bring the light of Russian culture abroad – without the risk of an international scandal, obscenities, vodka and drugs. Maybe it’s better to start promoting them? Otherwise there is a risk of it suddenly worsening.
“ВЧК ОГПУ”
