Concert by Putin ally Gergiev cancelled in Italy

The Un'Estate da RE festival in Italy has cancelled a concert featuring Russian conductor Valery Gergiev, an ally of President Putin, following criticism and pressure from Kremlin critics and human rights advocates. Gergiev, who has been excluded from Western stages since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, has faced backlash for refusing to denounce the invasion. The cancellation of the concert at the former royal palace near Naples has been praised by Ukrainian officials and critics of the Russian regime, while Moscow's ambassador to Italy criticized the decision as part of a trend of "cancelling" Russian culture.