Russian Rock Band Leningrad to Perform at St. Petersburg Economic Forum

June 14, 2016

Notorious Russian rock band Leningrad are to perform at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the band's agent Dmitry Guguchkin told the Baltika radio station Tuesday.

The band, who are famous for their foul-mouthed lyrics and social satire, will charge guests 100,000 rubles ($1,500) each for the show on June 17, the station reported. Forum organizers have set no restrictions concerning the performance, Guguchkin said.

Leningrad's provocative songs and music videos have repeatedly come under fire from Orthodox activists across Russia. One of the band's latest videos, “In St. Petersburg, You Drink,” is currently under investigation for “promoting alcoholism.”

The mayor of the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, Anatoly Lokot, was moved to warn the band against swearing at a concert in the city following complaints from activists in early June.

The annual St.Petersburg Economic Forum will take place this year between June 16 -18. The highlight of the Russian business calendar, this year's forum will feature President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue