Protests in London Against Anna Netrebko’s Performances at the Royal Opera House

Hundreds of people gathered in central London to protest against the performances of Russian opera singer Anna Netrebko, who is considered close to the Kremlin. Her first appearance at the Royal Opera House is scheduled for September 11, 2025.

Mass Protests in Covent Garden

The demonstration took place outside the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. According to organizers, hundreds of activists from the Ukrainian diaspora, human rights advocates, and concerned Londoners joined the rally. They oppose the decision to allow an artist linked to Russian propaganda to perform on Britain’s main stage.

Protesters carried placards calling to block the “Putin’s diva” from European venues and stressed that culture cannot be separated from politics when a brutal war against Ukraine is ongoing.

Scheduled Performances and Sold-Out Tickets

Anna Netrebko is set to perform the lead role in Giacomo Puccini’s opera Tosca. The program includes four performances: September 11, 15, 18, and 21. Despite the controversy, all tickets have already sold out.

The Royal Opera House has so far refrained from commenting on the protests. Earlier, its representatives insisted that artistic events should not be turned into political debates.

Netrebko’s Past and Ties to the Kremlin

Anna Netrebko has repeatedly been at the center of political scandals. In 2012, she openly supported Vladimir Putin during the Russian presidential elections.

In 2014, she met with one of the separatist leaders in Donbas, Oleg Tsaryov, visited occupied Donetsk, and donated one million rubles to the local theatre. That same year, a photo of her holding the flag of the so-called “Novorossiya” circulated in the media.

These actions led many European theatres and festivals to cut ties with Netrebko. Although she has since tried to distance herself from the Kremlin, Ukrainian and Western activists continue to regard her as a symbol of Russian cultural propaganda.

Valerii Zaluzhnyi’s Position

Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, strongly criticized the Royal Opera House’s decision to host Netrebko, calling it “a test of memory and honesty” for British society.

According to Zaluzhnyi, Netrebko, who “stood alongside Putin for decades,” is part of the Kremlin’s “soft power,” helping to mask atrocities behind the façade of high art. He reminded that in 2012 she served as Putin’s trusted representative in the elections, and in 2014 supported a theatre in occupied Donetsk, met with a separatist leader, and posed with the “Novorossiya” flag.

“For us, every aria on stage drowns out the real cries of Ukrainian children from destroyed hospitals and schools,” Zaluzhnyi emphasized. He urged not for censorship, but for responsibility: to remember that “this voice for years shielded a dictator, not condemned him.”

Context and Reactions

The Ukrainian community in the UK insists that allowing Netrebko to perform in London is “an insult to the memory of war victims.” They demand explanations from the Royal Opera House and plan to continue demonstrations during all scheduled shows.

Analysts note that this case once again raises the issue of artists’ responsibility when they consciously or unconsciously become part of authoritarian propaganda narratives.

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