Sweden Cancels International Music Competition Over Russia Ties
The International Music Competition (SIMC), which was to take place this weekend at the Stockholm historical museum, has been cancelled due to the organisers' close ties to Russian state institutions that actively support the war against Ukraine.
The Gaze reports on this with reference to the SVT television company.
According to the TV company's investigation, SIMC, which was positioned as a classical music competition for children and young people, turned out to be linked to the Russian Savshinsky Music Competition in St. Petersburg. These two competitions have key organisers in common, and fees for participation in SIMC could be paid directly to the Russian operator.
As Asa Marnell, director of the Swedish History Museum, told reporters, the decision to cancel the competition was made after this information was made public. ‘Obviously, we did not conduct enough quality research,’ Marnell said.
SVT reports that the composition of the competition jury was of particular concern. A search of open Russian sources conducted by SVT revealed that 18 of the 47 jury members are of Russian origin. At least 14 of them currently work in state cultural or educational institutions that directly support the invasion of Ukraine.
"In particular, several jury members are associated with Herzen University in St. Petersburg. The director of this university, Sergei Tarasov, signed an appeal in support of the president and the army of the Russian Federation on 4 March 2022. The university openly sends ‘humanitarian aid’ to Russian troops on the front lines. The jury members also include employees of the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory, which has its own ‘patriotic programmes,’ including discounts and concerts for Russian military personnel. Some jury members work at the Mariinsky Theatre, which since spring 2023 has been providing free tickets to performances for soldiers participating in the ‘special military operation’ and their families," the publication says.
It is noted that this incident highlights the importance of thoroughly vetting partners and participants in international cultural events, especially in the context of Russia's ongoing aggression against Ukraine.
Read more: Behind the Curtain: How Russia's Propaganda Targets the Heart of Europe