In response to people’s objections, Foreign Minister Baiba Braže (New Unity) put Rublev on the list of undesirable persons and the concert was canceled. This is not the first such case. The State Security Service therefore calls on event organizers to choose their guest artists more carefully.
The “First” nightclub is a scandal-ridden venue in Riga’s nightlife scene. It once managed to operate for several years without the necessary formalities and permits, but has recently distinguished itself by regularly trying to organize concerts for various musicians praising the Kremlin regime.
Before Denis Rublev, this nightclub tried to organize concerts for other Kremlin aggressors. These include rapper Instasamka, singers Misha Marvin and Irakli, and now DJ Rublev. Usually, however, as soon as a concert is announced, the responsible services put these guest artists on a blacklist and the events are canceled. A spokeswoman for the club, who did not give her name, refused to speak to the media.
The same club also hosts musicians who condemn the war and support Ukraine, such as the Belarusian rock band “Lapis Trubeckoj”, the Russian “Splin/Splean” and others.
The State Security Service (VDD) has also paid attention to what is going on at First, but so far no offense has been detected at the club that would lead to a prosecution. Instead, the Service has conducted preventive talks with First and other organizers of similar events.
The VDD calls on event organizers, when deciding whether to invite certain foreign artists to Latvia, to first obtain information on their position towards the aggressor state Russia and its war in Ukraine.
In the opinion of the Service, musicians who still perform in the aggressor country Russia, or its occupied territories of Ukraine are thus supporting the crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine.
Linda Ozola (New Conservative Party), Deputy Chairwoman of the Riga City Council, who is responsible for order and security in the capital, shares the same view. She sees the activities of the First club as provocative and divisive.
“It seems to be no coincidence that they are so insistent on inviting guest artists from Russia who are so openly pro-Kremlin,” she said.
“One can understand that the club just wants to do business and make money, but they risk becoming a hotbed of pro-Kremlin pop culture in the capital.”
At the same time, Ozola pointed out that the municipality does not have the tools to stop or restrict entertainment venues because of the guest artists they choose. First is also regularly in the eyes of the municipal police for various administrative offenses – last year there were around 60 municipal police calls to the venue, and this year – 15.
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