Open letter to Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ

In December, we welcomed the right decision of Muziekgebouw Eindhoven not to let Elisabeth Leonskaja perform in Eindhoven for the reasons set out by the 1st Honorary Consul of Ukraine in the Netherlands in his detailed post, in which he collected all confirmed facts about Leonskaja's performances in Russia.

However, in the justification of their decision not to follow the excellent example of Eindhoven, Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ emphasizes that Leonskaja’s performances in Russia are "a private matter".

It is indeed true that it was her own decision to tour Russia since the invasion and to give several concerts with Yuri Bashmet, an active and vocal supporter of Putin who recently declared he was ready to join the Russian army. Additionally, for her concerts in November 2025, free tickets were initially offered to Russian soldiers and their families; this mention was later removed from the website. Her concerts in Russia are for unknown reasons not officially listed on her personal website.

Therefore, we call on Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ to cancel this insensitive event. Organizers should not willingly close their eyes to Leonskaja's actions and her personal choices should be seen for what they are. Although she has not openly spoken the words "I support the war against Ukraine", her performances and friendship with people who did, speak volumes about her moral convictions. It is not about her origin, but about her actions in Russia about which she conveniently keeps quiet while touring in Europe.

We do not want the Netherlands to offer a stage to artists who might use their income to support the Russian army. The cultural sector should not set precedents that endanger the safety of our country.

The notion of culture outside politics sometimes results in musical performances outside ethics.

We call upon all individuals and organizations who understand why Leonskaja cannot perform in the Netherlands to sign this letter, so that we can convey our joint message Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ in Amsterdam before the concert takes place.

Concerned citizens and organizations for Ukraine.