Kanye West is set to perform in Russia later this year, despite the ongoing cultural boycott tied to the country’s invasion of Ukraine, according to NME.
The rapper has announced two concerts at St. Petersburg’s Gazprom Arena on October 10 and 11. Tickets for the 70,000-capacity venue sold out within hours of going on sale, BBC News reported, with prices ranging from 9,000 roubles to 160,000 roubles.
Russian lawmaker Vitaly Milonov reacted to the announcement by suggesting West should perform traditional Russian songs instead of his usual material. In a video statement cited by The New York Times, Milonov also criticized the rapper’s behavior.
The Russia dates are part of West’s ongoing comeback tour, which began at SoFi Stadium in California in April and has since included shows in the Netherlands and Turkey. Some of his other planned performances have been canceled or delayed amid backlash over his past anti-Semitic comments and Nazi imagery.
