On September 20, performers from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan took part in the international “Intervision-2025” contest in Moscow, a music competition often described as the Eurasian counterpart to Eurovision. Originally launched in the 1970s by countries of the Eastern Bloc, Intervision has been periodically revived as a stage for showcasing regional talent and cultural diversity, with recent editions aiming to strengthen cultural exchange across Eurasia. At the event, last held in Sochi, Russia, in 2008, the Kyrgyz performers, Nomad, earned second place. But even as regional talent competes on the global stage, a parallel trend is intensifying at home: artists, especially Russians, are increasingly being “canceled” across Central Asia. The root cause, observers say, is Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Mounting Controversies

Concert cancellations, particularly in Kazakhstan, have become so frequent that international artists are growing wary. On September 17, organizers for Canadian pop star The Weeknd announced the cancellation of his planned show in Almaty. They cited a broader pattern of artist cancellations in the country. “In light of recent events and online discussions, we have decided to consider hosting the concert elsewhere,” the statement read.

Sources suggest the cancellation was indirectly linked to the backlash over an upcoming concert by Russian rapper Timati, who has publicly supported the war in Ukraine. The online campaign has reportedly cast a shadow over unrelated performances, including The Weeknd’s.

At the same time, anti-war artists are also being blocked. Belarusian rapper Max Korzh saw his Almaty show canceled, despite his public criticism of the war. The decision may have been influenced by riots at his August concert in Warsaw, where Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) symbols were seen. In Russia, the UPA is classified as an extremist group; in Poland, it is accused of wartime atrocities against Poles. Following the event, the Polish authorities deported 57 Ukrainians and 6 Belarusians. Kazakh officials, observers say, are keen to avoid similar controversies.

The War’s Cultural Fallout

Ideological divides are reshaping Central Asia’s cultural landscape. Once welcome, Russian performers now frequently face petitions and protests. In August, an online campaign demanded the cancellation of pop singer Polina Gagarina’s November concert in Kazakhstan. Petitioners argued her public support for Moscow’s policies contradicted international law and risked provoking social unrest.

Russian rock singer Zemfira reportedly canceled her June concert at the request of venue owners. Other Russian artists, including Grigory Leps, Vladimir Presnyakov, and the Turetsky Choir, have been barred due to perceived support for the war. The “Zhara” music festival was also scrapped following online criticism, with the Kazakh Minister of Culture citing “political propaganda and attempts to divide society” as the reasons behind the decision.

Meanwhile, anti-war comedians and musicians are facing hurdles. Maksim Galkin, designated a “foreign agent” by Russia and now living in Israel, has complained of bans in Kazakhstan. Outspoken rapper Alisher Morgenstern canceled concerts in Almaty and Astana last year, while both his and Leps’ shows were prohibited in Kyrgyzstan. Officials in Bishkek cited moral concerns, accusing Morgenstern of undermining “Kyrgyz traditions and values.”

The rock band Bi-2 previously canceled a 2024 concert in Almaty amid fears of arrest and extradition to Russia. In February 2025, two performances by the Russian punk band Naiv were disrupted in Kazakhstan, despite the group’s vocal anti-war stance.

Comedy and Controversy

One of the most high-profile cancellations involved the Russian comedy troupe Kamyzyaki in 2023. Though several members are ethnically Kazakh, the group’s visit to Donetsk (in occupied Donbas) sparked a backlash in Kazakhstan. Their tour was officially canceled due to “negative public feedback.”

Uzbekistan followed suit in August 2025, banning a tour by Russia’s Comedy Club. Reports suggest the Ministry of Culture objected to the group’s portrayal of family and gender roles, which were deemed inconsistent with “national spirituality.”

Writers and Exhibitions Draw Fire

The plethora of cancellations has extended beyond music and comedy. In July, a talk planned in Tashkent by Russian-Israeli writer Dina Rubina was called off. Although she has lived in Israel for years, Rubina remains well-known in the region. In an earlier interview, she had controversially suggested “building a parking lot” over Gaza and dissolving its population “in hydrochloric acid,” adding that there were “no civilians” in the territory. Although Rubina later claimed her comments were taken out of context, the reaction from Muslim communities was swift.

In mid-September, an exhibition of Taiwanese artists at Kazakhstan’s Central State Museum was also canceled. While officials cited “museum reconstruction” and a terminated contract, Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs attributed the decision to Chinese pressure. Taiwanese lawmaker Michelle Lin said Beijing “has never stopped exerting pressure,” even in the realm of cultural diplomacy.

A Shifting Cultural Axis

The wave of cancellations reflects deeper regional shifts. Many Central Asia countries are steadily distancing themselves from Russia’s cultural orbit, even as global conflicts exert influence far beyond their borders. In this environment, governments are increasingly risk-averse, wary that a single performance could spark social unrest or even a diplomatic fallout.

The clash between cultural expression and geopolitics is redefining the arts across Central Asia. Intervision-2025 showcased regional creativity on an international stage, but the surge in cancellations underscores how artists are now caught in the crossfire of shifting allegiances and public sentiment. As governments tighten their grip, cultural diplomacy risks giving way to cultural fault lines—making the stage itself a mirror of broader geopolitical divides.