ITAR-TASS, Russia
Armenia cancels Russian singer’s tour
01.04.2005, 06.27
YEREVAN, April 1 (Itar-Tass) – Yielding to pressure by students’
organizations, Armenia canceled the guest performance trip to the capital by
Russian signer Filipp Kirkorov who is widely resented for his faux pas
several years ago.
Yerevan mayor Arman Saakyan said Thursday the Town Hall had received
numerous requests from students to cancel the concerts scheduled for April
8-9. Yerevan officials reached the relevant accord with the concert
organizers and arranged for ticket refund.
The news about the upcoming performances by Kirkorov caused a public outcry.
The Yerevan-based newspaper Aiots Ashkhar urged journalists to boycott the
coverage of Kirkorov’s tour.
Some young people tore up Kirkorov posters, threatening a rally and “all
kinds of actions” to prevent his concerts.
Anti-Kirkorov Armenians recalled that several years ago, he was wearing
Turkish flag clothes during a performance. The singer, who has Armenian
ancestry /his father being Bulgarian-Armenian/ should not have done it,
because the neighboring Turkey has not yet acknowledged the genocide of
Armenians in 1915 in the Ottoman empire.
In addition, the Armenian community has not forgotten Kirkorov’s insulting
remarks directed at journalist Irina Aroyan.
Kirkorov’s father Bedros /Petrol/ visited Armenia several times in the
1960s. His repertoire included many Armenian songs and he always enjoyed a
warm welcome.