In the Netherlands, the concert of a pianist who performed in Russia with pro-Putin musicians was canceled.

The Netherlands canceled a concert by pianist Leonskaya due to her support of Russian policies

In the Netherlands, the concert of pianist Elizaveta Leonskaya was canceled due to her connections with Russian musicians who support Vladimir Putin’s policies. The concert was to take place on December 4 at the main concert hall Muziekgebouw in Eindhoven.

Through the efforts of the Ukrainian embassy, the representation of the Ukrainian Institute in the Netherlands, the Ukrainian community, and Consul Karel Burger Dirven, Leonskaya’s performance was canceled. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, analyzing this event, concert organizations in other cities of the Netherlands, including Groningen and Amsterdam, also received requests to cancel pianist’s scheduled performances in 2026.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine believes that culture should not be used as a tool for war propaganda and justifying the aggressor’s war crimes. This decision reflects growing concerns about the use of culture as a platform for political influence.

Reference: Elizaveta Leonskaya, a pianist of Jewish-Polish descent, was born in Tbilisi in 1945. She gained international recognition after winning a competition in Bucharest. Leonskaya studied at the Moscow Conservatory and moved to Vienna in 1978. She has received numerous international awards throughout her musical career. Despite Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Leonskaya has performed in Russia several times, including in venues that distribute tickets to the military.