We, Ukrainian Activists of Maryland, are concerned with the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra’s current schedule, specifically, performances by Vadim Repin on November 6 & 7, 2026. Mr.Repin is a well-known public Putin propaganda supporter and has been banned from performing in several prestigious European venues. Repin, who was born in Russia, is currently a naturalized Belgian citizen, living primarily in Austria. However, he is still an active participant in Putin’s cruel, hostile regime. 

Repin attends Putin-sponsored government meetings, carries out Putin-directed assignments, and receives state awards and funding for his projects because of his relationship with President Putin. President Vladimir Putin of Russia, has already been recognized by the United States as the head of an “aggressor state”. We are concerned with Repin’s desire to “promote culture”, while, at the same time, promoting Putin’s anti-American agenda.

While Repin himself has not spoken in support of the war between Russia and Ukraine, he has performed at state-sanctioned events that include a concert with the State Kremlin Orchestra in 2024. His wife, ballerina Svetlana Zakharova, is sanctioned by Ukraine and is flagged on the Anti-Corruption Foundation’s sanctions tracker for representing Russian President Vladimir Putin in multiple elections.

Putin’s anti-American agenda has been clear, especially during the Iran War. Some naive people, such as Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, have been taken in by Russian propaganda, by saying that the old “Cold War” policies need to be changed. Tell that to the American service men and women who have been killed or severely wounded because Russia provided intelligence about American military institutions in Iran. This war has not stopped. Russia also continues to advise Iran on its next American targets.

We also remain baffled by the fact that the ASO has already cancelled his performance once before, during the start of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022.

What has changed to allow such a performance now?

Is the war over?

Has Russia stopped bombing civilian targets in Ukraine?

Russia’s targeting civilian infrastructure, and destroying power plants that provide the electrical supply, had many Ukrainians freezing to death this winter. Among these men, women and children included a Holocaust survivor. So, Russia’s constant targeting of civilians since 2022 gives us a chance to recognize and reward this internationally recognized “good” behavior?

Local media "The Baltimore Sun" has reacted already to ASO season announcement , which would include putin's supporter Repin and raised their questions here without receiving clear answers from Orchestra administration.

Ukrainian media "Liviy Bereg" - LB.ua has also raised concern  about upcoming return of pro-putin violinist to Maryland. The author discovered that the situation in ASO administration has now changed due to the change of executive director. The orchestra has a new executive director -  Erica Bondarev Rapach. According to her public profile, she began her career in cultural management whilst volunteering with the Peace Corps in Russia, where she performed with the Volgograd Symphony Orchestra. It is also noted that she speaks Russian and has previously visited Russia frequently. (see article here )

Annapolis is the capital of Maryland, home of one of our United States Military Academies, is a welcoming place for those fleeing war. Maryland also prides itself on acting on the input from the community, protecting basic freedoms of democracy, innovation, and fact-based policy and actions; none of this is consistent with a place that welcomes Putin propagandists.

We are asking the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra to address our concerns, as members of the local community, and cancel this performance. Do the right thing as you did 4 years ago, when this terrible war started.  

Culture should not be used to promote war or propaganda, and Mr. Repin poses a real danger of doing both. 

Sincerely,

 Diana Muller, Olga Onishenko and Maryna Lvovska

NB:
We thank Arts Against Aggression Art Against Agression (find their letter here) for their strong support of this issue.  The Annapolis Symphony Orchestra in Maryland, cancelled his performance in 2022, to show their support of Ukraine (find article here).  In January 2026 the Mannheim Philharmonic in Germany cancelled his appearance, after the musicians voted on it (find the article here).  In palm Beach, Florida Ukrainian activists  spoken out against the performance and  succesfully cancelled it (Find the article here and here.)    Most recently, Ukraine gets Russian violinist's concert canceled in Hungary (find the article here)