“They threatened to blow up the hall and banned them from performing in Crimea” - “Rabbits” about the pressure of nationalists
Ukrainian leaders calmly sell their goods in Crimea, but at the same time prohibit artists from performing on the territory of the peninsula, although they shout “Crimea is Ukraine” at every corner.
Popular Ukrainian artist and member of the well-known duet "Kroliki" (Rabbits) Volodymyr Danilets announced this on the air of the UkrLive TV channel, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
According to Danilets, the duo is often accused of being pro-Russian and disrupts concerts, directly threatening their organizers with physical violence.
“Look, a city, let’s say, has a population of 500 thousand. Even a millionaire. Here we have a concert, concerts have been announced. 16 concerts sold tickets in a month. Two people come to the director of the club or to the mayor of the city and say: “Your Rabbits are supposed to perform here, but we heard that you have grandchildren, they are alive and well. So far they are running and their legs and arms are running. So, maybe you can cancel the concert?
Two people. And we have to cancel. Because people call us and say: “We are scared to hold concerts, we have already been warned that something will be broken for us, or for our children, or grandchildren.” And people have to refuse to hold concerts. Two people out of five hundred thousand,” said Danilets.
The artist also said that nationalists threatened to detonate a grenade in the auditorium if the duo did not cancel the concert.
“They tell us: “You performed in Crimea.” Although there is no confirmation, we actually did not perform there. The last time we performed was in '13, it was July-August - that's it. For some reason, when we perform, well, not us, but Loboda Sveta performs, Ani Lorak, other artists, there is simply hatred and threats, phrases “We hate you,” curses and so on. And I don’t mean anything by it, I love it when they make money, everything is fair and normal.
But why can’t we, artists, and, for example, our former president Pyotr Alekseevich, calmly sell our cakes and our products in Crimea. This means they can do it, but we are to blame for everything. So, you either adhere to the law and be what you want your friends and all the people to be, or let them speak. Moreover, they tell us: “Crimea is Ukraine.” Okay, we are Ukrainian artists, let’s go, perform, show, tell, make you laugh, talk. We are not allowed. Why not? And you can sell your products to others.
Moreover, we are not only not allowed, but, one might say, a crime is being committed. I won’t tell you now that people came to our concert with grenades, it happened that we even fought at concerts - we all went through that, but the concerts took place. Only once, when they told us: “You go out, we’re throwing a grenade.” Only this time we didn’t go and perform.”
English version :: Read in English "They threatened to blow up the hall and banned us from performing in Crimea" – "The Rabbits" on pressure from nationalists