Following failed attempts to send opera singer Ildar Abdrazakov and conductor Valery Gergiev to Italy in 2025, Russian propaganda is now dispatching a ballet troupe led by Putin’s favorite ballerina, Svetlana Zakharova, along with her husband, Z-violinist Vadim Repin. The performance “Pas de Deux For Toes And Fingers — Zakharova & Repin” is scheduled at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino on January 20 and 21. 

According to the information on the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino website, the event is funded by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU fund. https://www.maggiofiorentino.com/events/zakharova-and-repin

The Network of Associations for Ukraine has sent an open letter to:

• the Management of the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Foundation,  
• Mayor of Florence, Dr. Sara Funaro,  
• President of the Tuscany Region, Dr. Eugenio Giani,  
• Ministry of Culture, Alessandro Giuli,  

demanding the cancellation of performances by Svetlana Zakharova and Vadim Repin in Florence. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1J1dsyRKs_ILqNtg-RY3171-e2oQEC5Ed2GVF1bRuG58/edit?usp=drivesdk

Svetlana Zakharova political activities and controversies:

• In 2024, Zakharova became a trusted person for Putin during his presidential reelection campaign. https://muzobozrenie.ru/doverennye-lica-vladimira-putina/

• Since December 2024, Zakharova has been a federal official of the Russian Federation, the rector of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography. https://www.dancechanneltv.com/amp/news/21

• Zakharova has been a member of Putin’s party “United Russia” since 2007.

• From 2007 to 2011, Zakharova served as a member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation representing Putin’s party, “United Russia.”

• Since 2018, Zakharova has been a member of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Culture and Art. She was reappointed to the updated composition of this Council on October 7, 2025.

• In 2019, during the sixth year of the war, Svetlana Zakharova received from Putin the Order “For Services to the Fatherland” IV degree — a state award recognizing outstanding contributions of Russian citizens to strengthening statehood. http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/62092/photos/62103

• In 2014, along with Putin’s “wallet”, Sergei Roldugin, Svetlana Zakharova established the “Talent and Success” fund. From 2022 to 2025, the fund received over 100 million rubles from the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. See the attached Zakharova – Educational Foundation “Talent and Success”.pdf file.

• Since January 2023, Zakharova has been on Ukraine’s sanctions list for supporting Russian aggression. https://www.opensanctions.org/entities/Q266708/

• Zakharova is included in the List of War Enablers compiled by Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF). https://sanctions.acf.international

• In an interview with a Russian newspaper in May 2024, Zakharova stated that in 2022 shortly after the beginning of the so-called “special military operation,” La Scala Theater canceled all her performances. https://aif.ru/culture/person/-vse-zavertelos-svetlana-zaharova-o-dochke-i-otmene-gastroley-v-seule

• Svetlana Zakharova’s performances in South Korea, initially scheduled for April 17-21, 2024, was canceled due to protests from Ukrainians.  https://amp.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3255454/ukraine-war-pro-putin-russian-ballerina-svetlana-zakharovas-seoul-show-cancelled-amid-backlash

• Svetlana Zakharova’s performance in Slovenia, originally planned for August 20, 2024, was canceled at the request of the Ukrainian Embassy in Slovenia. https://www.rferl.org/amp/ballet-performance-cancelled-slovenia-ukraine/32989605.html

Vadim Repin political activities and controversies:

• On January 16, 2019 during Putin’s meeting with Government members at the Kremlin, Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets remarked, “This is the third year the Russian Seasons festival is being held on your instructions, Mr President… The violin festival headed by Vadim Repin was successfully held in Italy. It took place almost everywhere in Italy: over 300 events in over 70 cities. Following this festival, we signed many contracts and established many cultural ties. http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/59683

• In April 2022, President Putin awarded Vadim Repin the honorary title of People’s Artist of the Russian Federation. https://www.classicalmusicnews.ru/news/vadim-repin-stal-narodnym-artistom-rossii/

• On February 21, 2024, Repin performed with the State Kremlin Orchestra in a concert organized by the “Kremlin” Foundation. The Presidential Library’s website promoted the concert on the eve of Defender of the Fatherland Day as “a great gift for our defenders,” offering tickets at a discounted price. https://www.prlib.ru/en/news/1944038

• Ukrainian violinist Dmytro Udovychenko declined to shake hands with Russian jury member Vadim Repin after winning the Queen Elisabeth Competition. https://theviolinchannel.com/dmytro-udovychenko-queen-elisabeth-competitions-2024-declines-jurors-hand-shake-vadim-repin/

• In March 2025, Putin sent a greeting to the participants of the Trans-Siberian Art Festival organized by Vadim Repin. http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/76486/print

• On April 18, 2025, Vadim Repin broadcusted his concert with the Russian National Orchestra, led by Italian conductor Alessandro Cadario, to an audience in occupied Crimea. https://kerchmuseum.ru/ru/publish/anons-vserossijskij-virtualnyj-kontsertnyj-zal-rossijskij-natsionalnyj-orkestr-dirizher-alessandro-kadario-solist-vadim-repin-skripka.html

• In 2013, Vadim Repin founded the “Vadim Repin Fund for the Advancement of the Arts.” Between 2022 and 2025, the fund received over 100 million rubles from the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. See the attached Repin – Trans-Siberian Art Festival.pdf file.

Other participants in Zakharova & Repin performance:

• Artemiy Belyakov, choreographer, publicly participated in fundraising to support the Russian troops fighting in Ukraine.

• Mikhail Lobukhin, performed in occupied Crimea.

• Igor Tsvirko, performed in occupied Crimea.