The Ukrainian community in Italy is campaigning against the display of Russian propaganda culture. Activists are boycotting performances by a Russian ballet company, calling on local Italian authorities to cancel Russian cultural events, and linking Kremlin disinformation to Russian culture.
On January 15, Ukrainians in Milan protested against the Russian Ballet. sleeping beauty Performance at Lirico Theater. “For the Russian artists of this ballet, it seems that war does not exist… Perhaps they have “transcended politics” and have not yet understood that there is no Russian culture separate from Kremlin propaganda. Some are Italian. Therefore, we need to protest.” I have written Lesha Tzibak, one of the rally organizers.
Participants at the rally stressed that Russia is a terrorist state and that Russian culture serves the Kremlin’s propaganda genocidal aims. They chanted slogans calling for the occupiers to be ignored and emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine in the war against the Russian invaders.
“We remembered the tragedy of the theater in Mariupol and how the Russians held a concert there and danced there on the bones of dead Ukrainians. And we went to the front and defended the Motherland. We remembered the Ukrainian artists who lost their lives there,” rally organizer said. was told To all participants.
Another demonstration is already planned for Wednesday, January 17th, in Piazza San Babila in central Milan. The event will take place one hour before the next scheduled Russian show. Russiada.
Rally organizers emphasize that Russia’s war against Ukraine continues. “They keep on dancing. They kill, and they dance. They destroy, destroy, smash to the ground, rape, deport, torture, and then come here and perform on stage and get applause. You get praise.”
scheduled show Russiada It is especially ironic since the occupiers intend to use elements of Ukrainian and Tatar culture in their performances. “First they bomb and kill Ukrainians and Tatars, and then they travel around Europe dancing in traditional costumes, despite numerous protests from the Ukrainian community. That’s madness.” I have written Katerina Sadyrova, one of the protest organizers.
Ukrainians living in Italy are determined to continue resisting Russian propaganda. “We also want to come here and say enough. You stole our washing machine and doghouse, our laundry and furniture, clothespins and our children’s stuffed animals. But we… You cannot steal our dances, costumes, culture and traditions,” Sadyrova stressed.
In early January, Ukrainians living in Italy also boycotted Russian exhibition about “happiness” in Mariupol, located in the Italian city of Modena. The community was then successful in getting the event canceled.