The Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Bulgaria Mati Ukraina addressed the European institutions with an open letter expressing its concern about Russian hybrid operations against Bulgaria and Europe, including the use of the so-called "soft power", the exponents of which are the Kremlin's cultural propagandists. The specific reason for the appeal is the visit of the violinist Vadim Repin, close to Putin, who is coming to our country for a joint performance with the Sofia Philharmonic.

"We hope that your support and influence will help the new government of Bulgaria to more decisively oppose Russian hybrid aggression, including the Kremlin’s “soft power” tools, not only in this specific case, but also in the future.
We emphasize that this appeal is not directed against cultural exchange as such, but against the potential use of cultural platforms in contradiction with the values and policies of the European Union." writes Mati Ukraina.

„We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the EU Member States and the Bulgarian institutions and the Bulgarian people, including for their support for Ukraine and Ukrainian citizens,” the open letter says.

It is addressed to the Vice-President of the European Parliament Pina Picierno, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas , the Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Culture and Education Nella Rill, the European Commissioner for Youth, Culture and Sport Glenn Micallef and the Head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria Yordanka Chobanova.

During the past week Mati Ukraina also addressed the Bulgarian institutions with a letter of protest in connection with the Repin concert, which is scheduled for May 14.

The Embassy of Ukraine, as well as the international organization Arts Against Aggression, have already expressed their written protest against holding the event.

The former chargé d'affaires of Bulgaria in Ukraine, Nikolay Nenchev, also expressed his civic position. He addressed an open letter to Ukraine's friend, Latvian violinist Gidon Kremer, who is due to perform with the Sofia Philharmonic on May 21, appealing to him to give a clear sign of support for European values.

The full text of the open letter by Mati Ukraina:

May 10 2026, Sofia

An Open Letter 

To 
Ms. Pina Picierno Vice-President of the European Parliament
Ms. Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission
Ms. Nella Rill, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Culture and Education
Mr. Glenn Micallef, European Commissioner for Intergenerational Justice, Youth, Culture and Sport
Ms. Yordanka Chobanova, Head of the European Commission Representation in Bulgaria

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

As representatives of Ukrainian organizations in Bulgaria, registered under the current legislation of the country and as Bulgarian citizens, we are addressing you in connection with the Kremlin’s practice of using culture as a tool in its hybrid war against Europe – the specific occasion being the upcoming joint concert of Russian violinist Vadim Repin and the Sofia Philharmonic on May 14. 
Information about the event is published on the official website of the Philharmonic (https://sofiaphilharmonic.com/sofiiska-filharmonia/artisti/aktualni/).

We consider it necessary to express our deep concern regarding the participation on one of the most prestigious stages in Bulgaria of an artist who has been publicly associated with support for the policies of the Russian Federation, including in the context of the Kremlin’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine.

Having already expressed our concern to Bulgarian institutions, we are now addressing you, because we are convinced that the problem is not limited to a specific event or a single country.

After 2022, cultural institutions in a number of European countries took action to limit the participation of artists who openly support or do not dissociate themselves from the actions of the Russian state in Ukraine.

A number of international media publications and public appearances since the beginning of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine have raised the question of the role of individual Russian cultural figures as part of the instruments of the Kremlin's so-called "soft power" and the outright hybrid war against EU countries. In this context, the participation of such artists in prestigious European cultural institutions gives rise to a serious public and moral debate. Last but not least is the fact that European countries canceled concerts with the participation of V. Repin and Bulgaria risks being the only country in the EU that will hold a concert with his participation on one of its most prestigious stages.

We emphasize: this letter is not directed against art in general or Russian culture as such. It is an expression of a position against the normalization of public appearances by an aggressor state at a time when it has been waging a genocidal war in the heart of Europe against Ukraine for the fifth year with grave human consequences. Holding such an event in Bulgaria could be perceived as a lack of empathy for the victims of the war; cause public tension; call into question Bulgaria's consistent position in support of Ukraine and significantly damage the international image of our country as part of the European Union.

The issue is particularly serious if the organizers of such events receive public or European funding. According to publicly available information, the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra receives funds under the European instrument NextGenerationEU, within the framework of the Recovery and Resilience Plan. There is already a precedent with a canceled tour by Vadim Repin in Florence, at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale, which receives funds through the same European instrument. The theatre has been warned that it may lose European funding due to the invitation to Repin and his wife, ballerina Svetlana Zakharova.

This address raises the issue not only in a moral, but also in a legal and institutional context related to the obligations of the Republic of Bulgaria as a member state of the European Union. According to Decision 2014/512/CFSP of the Council of the EU, as well as subsequent amendments and supplements after 2022, the European Union has introduced a wide package of restrictive measures against the Russian Federation, including in the areas of:

- public diplomacy and communication;

- activities related to state influence and propaganda;

- financing of entities associated with the Russian state.

In this context, Member State institutions should carry out due diligence when providing a public platform and financing to individuals who may be perceived as part of the toolkit for state influence.

According to the European Regulation 2018/1046 (EU Financial Regulation) and the principles of sound financial management, transparency and protection of the financial interests of the European Union, the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as any other Member State, has a commitment when using public and European funds, including in the field of culture, to make sure that it is:

- in line with the values of the EU (Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union);

- does not carry a risk of reputational damage to the Union;

- is not related to direct or indirect support for activities that contradict the EU's foreign policy objectives.

According to the EU Action Plan against Disinformation (2018) and the EU's strategic documents for countering hybrid threats, Member States should limit the possibilities for legitimizing narratives related to state propaganda as well as the use of cultural channels as a means of influence.

Considering these legal grounds, we addressed the responsible Bulgarian institutions with the following requests:

1. Public clarification of all circumstances surrounding the organization of the concert;

2. A clear position by the competent institutions;

3. Reconsideration of the holding of the event in the context of the current international situation.

We also appeal to the responsible Bulgarian institutions to act within the framework of European Union legislation and not to allow the organization and holding of any tours and appearances by Russian artists that support the aggressive policy of the Russian Federation and its President V. Putin.

We insist that decisions be taken in accordance with the values ​​that unite us as European societies. 

We hope that the Republic of Bulgaria will continue to be a state that protects European values, human rights and international law and will take the necessary actions to ensure compliance with European law and principles.

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

We hope that your support and influence will help the new government of Bulgaria to more decisively oppose Russian hybrid aggression, including the Kremlin’s “soft power” tools, not only in this specific case, but also in the future.

We emphasize that this appeal is not directed against cultural exchange as such, but against the potential use of cultural platforms in contradiction with the values ​​and policies of the European Union.

We take this opportunity to express our gratitude to the EU Member States and the Bulgarian institutions and the Bulgarian people, including for their support for Ukraine and Ukrainian citizens.

Sincerely,
Ph.D. Olena Kotseva,
Chairwoman of the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Bulgaria Mati Ukraina

CC:
Ms. Iliyana Yotova, President of the Republic of Bulgaria
Ms. Mihaela Dotsova, Chairwoman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria
Mr. Rumen Radev, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria
Mr. Evtim Miloshev, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Bulgaria
Ms. Velislava Petrova-Chamova, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria
Mr. Nayden Todorov, director of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra