Russian-Speaking Israelis Reject Theater Group Over Artists' Support For War In Ukraine

More than 5,000 Russian-speaking Israelis signed a petition after several artists belonging to Lenkom Theater, formerly called the Moscow State Theater, expressed support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Israeli producer Gadi Oron, an organizer of a tour of Russia's Lenkom Theater in Tel Aviv, said that due to protests by Russian-speaking Israelis, Lenkom's performances in Israel had been postponed. More than 5,000 Russian-speaking Israelis signed a petition after several artists belonging to Lenkom Theater, formerly called the Moscow State Theater, expressed support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Oron said in a statement on August 28 that neither he nor the theater had expected the backlash.Oron said neither he nor the theater had expected the backlash. The tour has been postponed until the end of the war, he added. Lenkom was to perform the play Memorial Prayer based on Tevye The Milkman by Jewish writer Sholom Aleichem. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Russian Service, click here.