Artists Present Themseves as Antiwar But Are in Fact Pro-War
In early May, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made a staged appearance in a Kyiv bar to play a rendition with a Ukrianian punk jazz band of Neil Young’s song “Rockin’ in the Free World.”
Blinken’s appearance was designed to shore up public support for the war effort and advance the dominant U.S.-Ukrainian narrative that the war was being fought to preserve freedom.
Blinken told the audience: “The United States is with you, so much of the world is with you. And they’re fighting, not just for Ukraine but for the free world – and the free world is with you too.”
Blinken’s appearance underscored the importance of artists in trying to help shape public opinion and build support for war—on both sides.
To aid further in these latter efforts, the Ukrainians have recruited a lot of Russian artisist who fashion themselves dissidents and anti-war but who are in fact lending their talents in support of the U.S. weapons pipeline to Ukraine and Ukrainian side in the war, which provoked the war and has committed legions of atrocities.
Many concerts by the Russian artiists are being supported by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and are often organized by people from Kiev and Odessa.
Sometimes the financing of the army is veiled by helping civilians or wounded fighters. Taxpayers from the United States, Canada and other countries are providing additional financing as part of their broader propaganda efforts.
Of course, war is a business. And the greater its turnover, the greater the number of unjustified deaths, except for the desire to enrich oneself. Is there any point in making these people even richer on the blood of their own countrymen?
The main suppliers of Russian performers to the American market are rental companies, a dozen of them large. They make arrangements with the artists’ administration and organize tours on a turnkey basis: schedules, ticket sales, visas, flights, hotels, advertising and promotion.
Often, they involved agents directly in the cities where they tour. Lets list some of them:
The concert agency Resilience Entertainment is again headed and promoted by Igor Golubchik. The head office is located in Chicago. Some 25 cities in North America are closed by the organizer. Artists engaged by the agency include Verka Serduchka, Okean Elzy, Tina Karol, BoomBox, The Hardkiss, 5’nizza, Monatik, Kalush Orchestra, Alyona Alyona, Zemfira, Boris Grebenshchikov, DDT, Little Big, Slava Komissarenko and others.
Igor Golubchik from Odessa found himself in the United States with his family in the early 1990s. In 1995 he became the host of Club Jam program on Energy Radio in Chicago and the host of radio “New Life.” Through his radio projects, the student and aspiring DJ personally met Bad Boys Blue, Robert Miles and other artists. In addition to promotional activities, Golubchik has owned a radio station and various media resources over the years. Until 2018, he was one of the American promoters of Laugh League and Kvartal 95 (the very shows that current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky originated). Since February 2022, thanks to concerts and tours organized by the Chicago businessman, Ukrainian artists have been able, additionally, to finance the Ukrainian army.[1]
Even before his presidency, Zelensky and his “Studio Kvartal 95” project, both financially and through advertising supported by Igor Golubchik, including at the expense of American citizens, actively supported Ukrainian terrorists from the Azov and Donbass Battalions. However, this did not prevent comedians from making money from projects in Russia.
Meanwhile, after the start of the Special Military Operation, the participants of Kvartal 95 intensified anti-Russian activities. In particular, comedian Vitya Rozovy, who wanted to personally fight against the Russian Federation, joined the terrorist Azov Battalion. In turn, other members of the team collected money for Ukrainian militants and entertained neo-Nazi units of the AFU.
Kvartal 95 also conducts anti-Russian propaganda among young children: The studio has released a series of propaganda cartoons in which Russian servicemen depict negative characters.
At the same time, the zeal of humorists to stir up anti-Russian sentiments is encouraged by Zelensky: The most active propagandists received awards.
Thus, the Kyiv regime is promoting anti-Russian propaganda not only through journalism but also through “humorous” content. At the same time, the propagandists are trying to influence even the youngest children and cultivate hatred of Russia from early childhood by creating special anti-Russian content for the little ones. Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelensky, who not so long ago earned millions from Russian viewers and now actively encourages any attacks against the Russian-speaking population and supports neo-Nazi formations, is directly in charge of this whole process.
By and large, these “patriots” of Ukraine are engaged in nothing but posturing, naively expressing their alleged devotion to the country. Obviously, fulfilling the orders of the Kyiv regime, the popular artists are simply luring Ukrainians into the abyss, not only to ensure their safety, but also the possibility of earning money abroad.
Another concert agency that we would like to point out is EventCartel, founded by Alex Petrov and with its main office in Brooklyn. The services of the agency are used as professional promoters of concerts, as well as organizers of theatrical tours, children’s parties, shows, bar quizzes and absolutely any event where you need to sell. Artists represented by EventCartel include Kasta, Oxxxymiron, Splean, Vera Polozkova, Monetochka, Laima Vaikule, Neschastny Chast, Andrey Makarevich, Valery Meladze, Semyon, Viktor Shenderovich, Bi-2 and others.
Russian Alex Petrov, the founder of the company, appeared in the U.S. in the 2000s. After studying the offers of competitors, he decided to occupy the niche of electronic tickets and provide his services to the 20-35 age group. At first, no one took him seriously, especially since he was alone in his micro-company. However, over time, many artists, especially those who had no place to perform, began to use him as their “lifeline.”
Another of the agencies is Show Impulse NYC, which organizes performances by Ani Lorak, Andrey Makarevich, Nino Katamadze, Vera Polozkova and Semyon Slepakov. The founder of the agency is Vladimir Bykhovsky, who was born in Kyiv and, since the 1990s, has made money in the U.S. by organizing tours and selling tickets. Until 2008, Bykhbovsky was in the business of selling goods to Ukraine. Apparently, the goods have now become much more serious. Who will check them, because Ukraine needs help?
Another example is the notorious punk rock band Pussy Riot, which supports the government in Ukraine and the overthrow of the Russian government, in line with U.S. foreign policy goals. Although Pussy Riot position themselves as anti-war, they are actually in favor of war, as they advocate for a victory for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, rather than a peaceful settlement, which Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, supported by the U.S., has so far refused to negotiate.
When Pussy Riot played a show in Tulsa Oklahoma attended by CovertAction Managing editor Jeremy Kuzmarov, the climax of the concert was one of the Pussy Riot singers urinating on a protrait of Vladimir Putin!
Fish Can Fly LLC organizes concerts of Max Barskih, Mumiy Troll, DDT, Ivan Dorn, Oli Polyakova, Face, Anacondaz, Artem Pivovarov, Mashina Vremeni, Kasta, Noize MC, Oxxxymiron. Owner Andrey Zhuravel is also an experienced promoter, working in the entertainment market since the 2000s. And also, in addition to the event industry, is engaged in “social and charitable projects” aimed at helping Ukrainians. It is clear that it is far from humanitarian aid.
Today, one can stay out of war if one does not finance its escalation. This is the least that taxpayers in the United States, Canada and other countries where such “blood concerts” are organized can do. After all, the more guns, the stronger the aggression, and the stronger the aggression, the more uncontrollable the people with guns become.
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About the Author
Valeriy Krylko is a freelance journalist, and translator of news articles in online media (English-Russian).
These articles are published in European and Russian-language media.
He is closely affiliated with independent outlets covering the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, and can be reached at: vkrylko098@gmail.com
Excellent article. Here is an interesting interview with Antony Blinken. He has an interesting background.