The artist Goran Bregović and his band were not allowed to enter the Republic of Moldova on Sunday, where they were going to perform in the evening at a festival, even though they had landed at Chisinau International Airport, local media reports.
The organizers of the Gustar festival, which takes place these days at the “Orheiul Vechi” Cultural-Natural Reserve, announced that Goran Bregovic’s band will not be present at the event, given the fact that “they were not allowed to enter the Republic of Moldova” .
“We regret to inform you that the band Goran Bregović will not be able to be present at the planned concert this evening, for reasons that are not related to the festival organizers or the artists. Unfortunately, they were not allowed to enter the Republic of Moldova, having already landed at the Chisinau International Airport”, the organizers of the event wrote on Facebook, according to the source cited by News.ro.
Later, they returned with a post in which they reproduced a message sent in English by the artist from the Balkans. He declares himself disappointed by the authorities’ decision not to let him enter Moldova and says that he was not given any official explanation.
“My dear Moldovan friends!
I apologize for not being able to perform at the Gustar Music Festival today. We were very disappointed when we were not allowed to enter the Republic of Moldova at Chisinau airport, without any official explanation. I have done many tours with my musicians all over Europe and I have never had any difficulties anywhere. I like your country very much and it is a pleasure for me to respond to the opportunity to perform in Moldova, especially at such a colorful and unique festival like Gustar. I am very sorry that I was deprived of the joy and pleasure of appearing before you this time. But I can assure you that together with my team we will try to make sure that my performances in Moldova next time will not encounter any obstacles. I look forward to our next meetings! With love, Goran Bregovic”, the artist sent.
Journalists from Chisinau requested a point of view from the Border Police, but so far they have not received an answer.
Goran Bregovic, 73, was born in Sarajevo, in present-day Bosnia-Herzegovina, but is a self-proclaimed nostalgic for the former Yugoslavia and composed the song with which Serbia presented itself at Eurovision in 2010. Goran Bregovic openly supported the occupation of Crimea in 2014, where he also performed the following year, but also the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Although in the message sent to the Moldovans he claims that he has not encountered any problems in other parts, the artist is banned from entering Ukraine and Poland. Previously, the authorities from Chisinau declared that public figures who call for war, discord and hatred are undesirable on the territory of the Republic of Moldova, deschide.md reminds.
On Sunday evening, at the Gustar festival where Bregovic was supposed to perform, there was also a concert by the Ukrainians from the Kalush Orchestra band, who in 2022 won the Eurovision Song Contest.
Editor: Liviu Cojan
