The Kremlin reportedly conducted a not-for-publication poll to gauge public opinion about the prospect of cancelling or greenlighting Kanye West‘s show in Russia. According to RBC, the majority of respondents were unconcerned about whether it happened.
The Russian presidential administration commissioned the survey in response to the show’s public controversy. According to unnamed sources quoted by the business daily, the majority of respondents did not care at all about whether the American rapper performs in Russia or not.
Supporters and opponents were evenly divided among those with a preference. Some respondents favoured the performance, while others were opposed to it.
The results did not provide a compelling case for moving forward, according to one source. The RBC report gives no percentages or specifics about the survey methodology.
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Why Russian officials turned against Kanye West
Some Kremlin officials initially supported bringing West to Russia, partly because of «his favourable attitude» towards president Vladimir Putin, a source close to the presidential administration told RBC.
But organisers failed to secure agreement from St Petersburg authorities and governor Alexander Beglov, another source said. When city officials took the matter to Moscow, objections emerged to both the event and the performer.
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The security apparatus opposed the concert, citing the rapper’s comments about Hitler and him using «prohibited symbols,» a federal official told RBC. The parliamentary election campaign also delayed decisions, according to the report.
Moving the show to Moscow was one option under consideration, but West’s team raised concerns about autumn weather and audience comfort at the open-air Luzhniki stadium.
RBC reported on 29 September that the autumn performance would not go ahead. Its account describes several obstacles; it does not establish that the poll determined the outcome.
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