Valuyev Demands Probe of Kanye West Before St. Petersburg Concert

Valuev stated that holding a Kanye West concert in Russia is a political issue.

Consensus

Kanye West was scheduled to perform in St. Petersburg on October 10 and 11, 2026.
The Gazprom Arena denied hosting the concerts and stated no rental agreement was signed.
Organizer Say Agency claimed ticket sales began based on documents issued on September 4.
Rosconsumnadzor issued a warning to Say Agency on September 6 over ticket refund issues.
Say Agency's CEO Anna Subcheva stated the company acted within the law and was reviewing the situation with legal experts.
The official October 2026 schedule for Gazprom Arena lists only two football matches and performances by Zivert and 'Ruki Vverkh'.
The center of temporary personnel for Zenit announced hiring staff for October 10 and 11.
Organizers stated they have no plans to cancel or reschedule the concerts.
Valuyev raised concerns about Kanye West's political and ideological background, calling the concert a political issue.
Maria Zakharova of the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed shock over the alleged promotion of Nazi symbols in Kanye West's music.

The Gazprom Arena officially stated on August 24 that the concert would not take place, emphasizing it was not the initiator and no rental contract was signed. — gazeta_spb
The Gazprom Arena reiterated on the same day that no foreign artist performances were scheduled for October 2026. — vm
Say Agency expressed fatigue over accusations of fraud despite not knowing about internal stadium processes. — gazeta_spb
Say Agency's CEO stated that organizers have no plans to reschedule or change the venue. — vm