After Nazi statements, Kanye West's shows in Russia generate controversy and questions for Putin

Kanye West. Reproduction/Twitter/kanyewest The announcement of two shows by rapper Kanye West in a Russian stadium later this year sparked a frenzy in the press and the local political scene, to the point where Vladimir Putin's spokesman was asked this Thursday (20) whether the president would meet with the singer. The American artist, who also uses the stage name "Ye", will perform at the Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg on October 10 and 11, in what will be the biggest show by a Western artist since Moscow launched its offensive against Ukraine in February 2022. Most American and European artists avoid performing in Russia, the target of harsh sanctions after the start of the war. West has a large number of fans in Russia, and more than 100,000 tickets for the shows have already been sold, according to Russian media, citing organizers. Kanye West and Putin together? Kanye West wears a cap with a phrase symbolizing Trump's campaign during a meeting with the US president in the Oval Office of the White House AP Photo/Evan Vucci During a press conference this Thursday (20), Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked about the existence of plans for Putin to meet with West. "It's not our business. This isn't Mosconcert," Peskov replied to the journalist, referring to a Russian cultural agency. "This is the Presidential Administration," he added, without explicitly ruling out a possible meeting. Parliamentarians and officials also joined in the uproar While one of them thanked West for not giving in to "anti-Russian hysteria," MP Nikolai Novichkov criticized the rapper's statements glorifying Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. West sparked widespread outrage with comments praising Hitler, a song titled "Heil Hitler" and the sale of swastika T-shirts on his website. Kanye West's brand website sells shirt with swastika, after Super Bowl ad Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images North America/AFP and Reproduction Kanye West's brand website sells shirt with swastika, after Super Bowl ad Reproduction According to Russian legislation "against the rehabilitation of Nazism", denial of the Holocaust and the dissemination of false information about the Third Reich can be punished by several years in prison. This law is often used to persecute Kremlin critics. Several countries - including the United Kingdom, France and Poland - have banned West from performing in their territories this year. Read also: British government prevents Kanye West from traveling to the United Kingdom How Kanye West's 'almost coming' generated legal chaos at one of Brazil's biggest rap festivals