Duma Speaker Volodin following Munich mayor calls on Russian cultural figures to take stand on Ukraine

MOSCOW. March 2 (Interfax) - State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin believes that following the Munich Philharmonic's decision to dismiss Valery Gergiev as a chief conductor of its orchestra due to the situation surrounding Ukraine, Russian cultural figures should determine their positions on the issue.

"In this regard, it would be right for all admirers of foreign approaches and standards, in particular, the artistic directors, directors, actors and actresses, representatives of show business working in Russia to state a clear position by Monday, as the Munich mayor said, on the situation in Ukraine," Volodin said on his Telegram channel on Tuesday.

He noted that "today is the moment of truth." "Everyone should understand: either we will rally around the country, overcome the challenges, or we will lose ourselves," the State Duma speaker said.

According to Volodin, the question arises, "And what happens when our show business representatives, who have made a name thanks to the state-run television channels, and cultural figures on the budget's payroll make public statements?" This is done "exactly in the spirit of what the authorities of European countries demanded that Gergiev do," the speaker of the lower house of parliament said.

Volodin also believes it is entirely clear that "Valery Gergiev could not betray his country, those guys who are now fighting against the Bandera's followers and bringing peace and freedom to the fraternal people of Ukraine."

Earlier, the Munich mayor decided to remove Gergiev from his position as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra "because he did not 'state his position by Monday' on the situation in Ukraine," the Duma speaker said.