May 31 Concert Honoring Victims of Political Repression Canceled Without Explanation

A concert dedicated to the Day of Remembrance for Victims of Political Repression and Famine, scheduled for May 31 at the Almaty Theatre, was abruptly canceled weeks before the event without any official explanation, Orda.kz reports.

Composer Yerkesh Shakeyev shared the news on his Facebook page. According to him, the Almaty Theatre first informed the organizers verbally, and soon after, the FreedomTicketon website quietly halted ticket sales without offering an explanation.

The Almaty City Department of Culture later stepped in.

Five days after the Almaty Theatre’s refusal, the Almaty Department of Culture belatedly raised concerns about the lack of proper notification from the organizers — whether that meant us or the theatre, I’m not sure. I hope to get and share the details along with the list of all the official refusals. Shakeyev wrote.  

The concert was planned as a tribute to the memory of the victims. With its sudden cancellation, the fate of the event now remains uncertain. Orda.kz has sent inquiries to the Almaty Theatre and the City Department of Culture for comment.

Original Author: Alina Pak