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.
Points of divergence
- 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
Coverage (2 sources)
- Valuyev demanded to check Kanye West before concert in St. Petersburg - SPB Newspaper - St. Petersburg news — Gazeta.SPb
- Valuyev stated that holding a Kanye West concert in Russia is a political issue — Вечерняя Москва