Moldovan culture minister: “We are not banning artists, but we do not recommend concerts by those who support the war”

Culture Minister Cristian Jardan today said that the institution he leads was not introducing bans on artists from the Russian Federation. However, their participation in events organized in the country depends on their position regarding the war launched by Russia against Ukraine. The statements were made in the context of a request submitted by the leader of the Our Party formation, Renato Usatii, concerning the organization of the Graduates’ Festival.

According to the minister, the request concerned a list of 17 artists from the Russian Federation who were to perform at the festival. Cristian Jardan specified that the list had been analyzed both by the Culture Ministry and by the Intelligence and Security Service.

“From this list, we recommended four Russian artists who can come without any problem. For the rest, we do not guarantee that they will be able to enter Moldova and we do not recommend organizing concerts with their participation,” the minister said after a today’s cabinet meeting.

The official noted that, among the artists for whom a favorable opinion had been issued, there were Maxim Galkin, Zivert, singer Michele Serova and DJ Rumer.

Cristian Jardan also said that the Culture Ministry had so far received 49 requests regarding the participation of various artists, most of them from the Russian Federation. According to him, 27 of these requests were not recommended.

“All opinions are coordinated with the Intelligence and Security Service and are well substantiated,” the minister underlined.

Earlier, MP Renato Usatii has announced the organization of the 2026 Graduates’ Festival and presented a list of artists he intended to invite to the event. Among them, there are: Leonid Agutin, Basta (Vasili Vakulenko), t.A.T.u., DJ Smash, Ruki Vverh! (Sergey Zhukov), Zivert, Guf, Egor Kreed, Alexander Serov, Maxim Galkin, Lyusya Chebotina, Dmitry Malikov, Igor Nikolayev, Irina Krug, Michele Serova, Leningrad (Sergey Shnurov), DJ RUMER.