Participants of the rally in defense of “Tannhauser” demanded the resignation of Medina – RBC

In the center of Novosibirsk Rally Against Censorship in the theater and in support of the performance of “Tannhäuser” has been removed from the repertoire of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre. Supporters of creative freedom gathered on Lenin Square. Siberian edition “Tayga.info” led with a live broadcast of the meeting, which took place in front of Opera and Ballet. The publication noted that the new director Vladimir Kehman at the same time appointed a meeting of the creative team.

Participants of the meeting adopted a resolution which called for the “inadmissibility of any kind of censorship, guarantees freedom of expression and creativity, adherence to relevant articles the Constitution. ” Among other requirements of protesters – the abolition of Article 148 of the Criminal Code in respect of works of art, the resignation of the Minister of Culture Vladimir Medina, the resignation of the new director of the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Vladimir Kehmana and restoration of the opera “Tannhauser” in the repertory.

These requirements are participants of the rally “For creative freedom” are going to send to President Vladimir Putin and the State Duma.

«Separate groups of citizens must not express opinions of all residents. Performance of “Tannhauser” was attended by about eight thousand people, which is much higher than the number of rallies against the play, “- said in a resolution. Participants of the meeting pointed out that the decision on the fate of “Tannhauser” was made without taking into account the views of the audience and the theater community.

The situation around the production of “Tannhäuser” directed by Timothy Kuljabina caused a public outcry after the Metropolitan of Novosibirsk and Berdsk Tikhon said that the opera is not used for its intended purpose and symbolism Church is outraged believers.

With regard to the director and theater director Boris Mezdricha were instituted administrative proceedings under article “deliberate public desecration of religious or theological literature, objects of religious veneration, signs or emblems ideological symbols and paraphernalia or their damage or destruction. ” The Court did not find in the actions of the director and the director of the theater of the offense. The prosecutor’s office appealed the decision. Simultaneously, Novosibirsk Department of Investigation SK start checking for the presence in the formulation of the facts insult the feelings of believers (st.148 Criminal Code).

At the end of March Novosibirsk diocese ROC sent an open letter to the Minister of Culture Vladimir Medina with the requirement to remove ” Tannhäuser “from the repertoire of the Novosibirsk State Opera. “From” kulyabinschiny “must be completely ruled out the image of Jesus Christ, whether the character of the formulation, whether the image on the poster or something like it, or it’s” creation “must be completely, once and for all removed from the repertoire,” – stated in the diocese.

The Ministry of Culture decided that in the opera of Wagner should amend and apologize to believers, whose feelings it hurt, and Mezdrichu pointed to “failure to monitor the institution he heads.” March 29 Mezdrich was fired. In his place was appointed director of the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Vladimir Kehman. The new director, formerly called the production “Tannhauser” “blasphemy” and “demonstration of the internal wickedness” immediately expelled from the repertoire of opera theater in Novosibirsk.