Pay or Don't Sing: Crimean Performers Are Being Charged for 'Hostile' Elton John

The Russian Authors' Society (RAO) demands that businessmen from new regions of the Russian Federation pay fees for the performance of songs by foreign performers, including those hostile to Russia.

Russian Senator Dmitry Vorona announced this today at a meeting of the Federation Council, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.

"Recently, I have often received information from businesses in the Republic of Crimea and the reunited regions about attempts to collect large royalties from them in favor of the Russian Authors' Society for the performance of songs by Michael Jackson, Elton John, Frank Sinatra and other foreign performers. The amounts are impressive.

For example, one of the establishments will have to pay 200 thousand rubles for a one-time performance of 10 songs. The lawsuit has already been filed in one of the Crimean courts," Vorona said.

As confirmation of their demands, RAO representatives attached contracts concluded directly with foreign contractors.

“Their absolute majority openly condemns Russia and does not recognize the entry of the Republic of Crimea, Sevastopol, or the reunited subjects into the Russian Federation, and even advocates the abolition of Russian culture,” Vorona said.

The chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture, Lilia Gumerova, promised to look into the situation, but she believes that “our cultural institutions should not play songs by performers who are so categorically opposed to Russia.”

“The melodies that glorify our country should be played,” Gumerova puzzled.