Protest Planned Outside Barbican In London

<p>Protest Valery Gergiev, Putin supporter</p> <p>by Peter Tatchell | 6th November 2013</p><p></p><p>Valery Gergiev Conducts LSO at Barbican on 7 November, Gergiev defends anti-gay law & condemns Pussy Riot</p><p></p><p>Join The Peter Tatchell Foundation </p><p>Assemble:</p><p>6pm-7pm, Thursday 7 November 2013</p><p>Barbican Concert Hall, outside main entrance</p><p>Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS</p><p>Nearest tubes: Barbican & Moorgate</p><p></p><p>Map: <a href="http://bit.ly/19rccit">http://bit.ly/19rccit</a></p><p></p><p>If you can’t attend, please email your protest: music@barbican.org.uk</p><p>or phone: 020 7638 4141</p><p></p><p>Organised by the Peter Tatchell Foundation, with the support of the African LGBTI Out & Proud Diamond Group.</p><p></p><p>Bring sparklers to create a bright visual effect for the protest. Putin represses, we sparkle!</p><p></p><p>Valery Gergiev conducts the London Symphony Orchestra on Thursday at the Barbican, with a performance of Berlioz.</p><p></p><p>“This protest takes place on the anniversary of the 1917 Russian revolution. Some people argue that Russia needs a new, non-violent democratic revolution. Putin is taking the country backward. As well as escalating repression against the LGBT community, civil liberties and dissidents are also under attack. His regime has incarcerated political prisoners in jails that resemble gulags. Gergiev endorses Putin, despite this shameful repression. That’s why we need to protest,” said human rights campaigner and protest coordinator, Peter Tatchell, Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation.</p><p></p><p>Last Thursday, Peter Tatchell interrupted the opening night of Gergiev’s new LSO season at the Barbican, criticising the pro-Putin stance of the Russian conductor. </p><p>See details: <a href="http://bit.ly/17wXPLF">http://bit.ly/17wXPLF</a></p><p></p><p>“Gergiev has been listed a celebrity supporter of the autocratic Russian president, Vladimir Putin, whose regime harasses journalists, lawyers, human rights defenders and LGBT campaigners. Peaceful protesters and opposition leaders are being arrested, often on trumped up charges, in a bid to silence and intimidate critics.</p><p></p><p>“Valery has defended the homophobic law that persecutes gay Russians; reportedly falsely claiming that it is a law against paedophilia. He condemned and sneered at Pussy Riot.</p><p></p><p>“His loyalty to Putin has been rewarded with personal honours and massive state grants for his pet projects. Gergiev is a great conductor but he colludes with a tyrant and shows little respect for freedom and equality,” said Mr Tatchell.</p><p></p><p>Valery Gergiev's name appears on a list of high-profile supporters of Putin, according to the Moscow Times: <a href="http://bit.ly/x75w5W">http://bit.ly/x75w5W</a></p><p></p><p>In the run up to the last Russian elections, he publicly stated that he was voting for Putin:</p><p><a href="http://bit.ly/w3QuT4">http://bit.ly/w3QuT4</a></p><p></p><p>His support for the repressive Putin regime was confirmed by Private Eye. Number 1350, 4-17 October 2013.</p><p></p><p>Valery Gergiev is principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and artistic director of the world famous Mariinsky Theatre in St Petersburg.</p><p></p><p>Further information:</p><p></p><p>Peter Tatchell</p><p>Director, Peter Tatchell Foundation</p><p>Email: Peter@PeterTatchellFoundation.org</p><p>Web: www.PeterTatchellFoundation.org</p>