Kremlin-Loyal Dancer, Politician Axed from Italian Stage After Ukraine Protest

A major Italian theater has suspended a Russian ballerina and her violinist husband from upcoming performances following a public campaign by Ukrainian activists. The Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence removed the two artists from its production of "Swan Lake." The decision came after Ukrainian groups highlighted the ballerina's political ties to the Kremlin. The dancer, a former deputy in Russia's State Duma, publicly supported the 2014 annexation of Crimea. She was among the signatories of an open letter endorsing the takeover, which most of the international community considers illegal. The theater stated the suspension was due to "force majeure," a clause for unforeseen circumstances. It did not comment directly on the political campaign. The artists have not yet made a public statement. Their removal shows how the war in Ukraine continues to impact Russian cultural figures abroad, especially those with clear political affiliations.