The concert of the famous British group Massive Attack, planned for the end of July in Georgia, has been canceled due to the group's disqualification. The musicians cited the events unfolding in the country due to the Russian Law on so-called Foreign Agents.
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“We’ve decided to-cancel our show in Georgia on 28 Jul in protest of the Georgian government's attack on basic human rights.
At this moment, performing at the state-owned Black Sca Arena could be seen as an endorsement of their violent crackdown against peaceful protests and civil society. Beatings, arrests, threats, and violence against peaceful protesters, activists, and opponents, along with laws smearing civil society and denying LGBTI rights, go against everything we stand for.
We stand in solidarity with peaceful protesters in Georgia defying state violence & feel that it is their voices that need to be heard and their struggle that needs to be under the international spotlight. We'll return and perform with you in freedom. #ProtecttheProtest,” reads Massive Attack's statement.
The concert of the British group was scheduled as part of the government project "Starring Georgia." After tickets went on sale on April 25, Georgian citizens took to social networks urging Massive Attack members to show solidarity with the young people at the rally and reconsider their decision to come to Georgia. The Shame movement issued a statement addressing the group: "We know that Massive Attack supports justice, freedom of expression, civil activism, and minority rights. Therefore, we urge you to familiarize yourselves with the alarming political situation in Georgia. We hope you will consider this matter and act accordingly based on your judgment. At the very least, we hope you will take a stand against these anti-democratic actions from the stage."
Black Sea Arena will refund the ticket money to the concertgoers.
