Letter - April 2025

[your address]

Dear [name of your MP]

I am writing to you as a concerned constituent about the recent decision by the Royal Opera House (ROH) to schedule performances by the Russian soprano Anna Netrebko.

Netrebko has substantial links to the Kremlin (please see the link of the letter for evidence, https://www.write-for-ukraine.org.uk/open-letters-collection/royal-opera-house-invitation-to-anna-netrebko) and she supports the idea of Novorossiya, an ideology based on chauvinism and militarism that justifies Russian imperialism in Eastern Ukraine. I am deeply upset that the ROH believes it is acceptable to invite Anna to perform as an individual whose political views do not consider the Ukrainian nation as having a right to exist and inadvertently supports the destruction of the Ukrainian nation by force – this is what Novorossiya stands for. 

The Ukrainian community and its leaders, as well as friends of Ukraine across the UK sent the attached letter to the ROH and received a vague reply that states that „Anna has spoken out against the war“, and that „Anna has publicly contested the circumstances reported around her appearance in Donetsk in 2014“ and also „in 2022, she made clear statements condemning the war in Ukraine“. No evidence of these statements was provided by the ROH, however, we looked for the evidence ourselves and what we were able to find is the following two Facebook posts, from 26/02/2022 and 30/03/2022 respectively:

"I have taken some time to reflect because I think the situation is too serious to comment on without really giving it thought. First of all: I am opposed to this war. I am Russian and I love my country but I have many friends in Ukraine and the pain and suffering right now breaks my heart. I want this war to end and for people to be able to live in peace. This is what I hope and pray for. I want to add one thing, however: forcing artists, or any public figure, to voice their political opinions in public and to denounce their homeland is not right. This should be a free choice. Like many of my colleagues, I am not a political person. I am not an expert in politics. I am an artist and my purpose is to unite people across political divides."

--

"I expressly condemn the war on Ukraine and my thoughts are with the victims of this war and their families. My position is clear. I am not a member of any political party nor am I allied with any leader of Russia. I acknowledge and regret that past actions or statements of mine could have been misinterpreted. In fact, I have met President Putin only a handful of times in my entire life, most notably on the occasion of receiving awards in recognition of my art or at the Olympics opening ceremony. I have otherwise never received any financial support from the Russian Government, and live and am a tax resident in Austria. I love my homeland of Russia and only seek peace and unity through my art. After taking my announced break, I will resume performing in late May, initially in Europe.“

I would highlight that in these statements Netrebko failed to name Russia as the aggressor, Vladimir Putin as the instigator and Ukraine as a victim. I am also confused how can her choice to pose with a UK-sanctioned separatist next to a military expansionist flag and donate money to Kremlin-occupied Donetsk can be interpreted in any different way other than support for the Kremlin and Russian imperialism. 

Indeed, Netrebko in the statement above says that she loves her homeland, even when it ruthlessly invaded a free sovereign nation in 2014 and then in 2022. It is clear that Netrebko is supportive of the Kremlin regime and Russian imperialism. Her vague statements suggest that she wishes to continue to perform in Western countries and collect revenue, and at the same time remain politically loyal to the Kremlin. Condemning Russia is not a political stance but a human position and by failing to do so, Netrebko clearly displays a political position which is pro-Kremlin.

I ask that the ROH cancels Netrebko‘s performances due to her pro-Kremlin political views, failure to condemn Russia‘s aggression in 2014 and in 2022, and failure to condemn Vladimir Putin. I understand the ROH falls outside your constituency, however, I kindly urge you to raise this concern on my behalf in Parliament or however you deem most appropriate. 

The UK must not allow pro-Kremlin performers to perform on Western stages and profit, whilst they politically align with those who seek to wage war on Ukraine and Ukrainians, and threaten the West, including the UK.

Thank you for taking time to read my letter.

I look forward to your reply. 

Best regards,

[your name]