Tatchell protest targets pro-Putin conductor

Protesters were dragged from a free concert in Trafalgar Square yesterday after heckling the Russian conductor for his support of Vladimir Putin.

Valery Gergiev, who has been the London Symphony Orchestra’s principal conductor since 2007, has close ties to the Russian president. In March he was one of 500 Russian celebrities who signed an open letter declaring support for Putin’s stance on Ukraine and Crimea. Yesterday’s performance was targeted by protesters including human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.

More than 20 activists sitting in front of the stage began shouting at Mr Gergiev, waving Ukrainian flags and holding a banner that read “Gergiev supports war in Ukraine”.

Ukrainian Chrystyne Chymera, from anti-Putin campaign group London EuroMaidan, said: “Gergiev’s pro-Putin position is an insult to the people of Ukraine.”

Mr Tatchell said: “Gergiev is a great conductor but he allies himself with the expansionist, homophobic Moscow regime. He is not fit to conduct the LSO.”