Russian conductor Valery Gergiev denies supporting anti-gay legislation - The Guardian

Valery Gergiev: 'I have said before that I do not discriminate against anyone, gay or otherwise, and never have done.' Photograph: Hiroyuki Ito/Getty Images

Valery Gergiev ^[1] , the Russian conductor facing a gay rights ^[2] protest at his London concert on Thursday, has released a statement saying it was wrong to suggest he had ever supported anti-gay legislation.

Gergiev, the principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra ^[3] , has been the target of protests in London and New York because of his perceived closeness to the Putin regime.

Last Thursday, the gay rights campaigner Peter Tatchell interrupted the beginning of an LSO concert at London's Barbican when, in evening dress, he took to the stage and told the audience: "Gergiev defends the new homophobic law that persecutes gay Russians." A further picket of a concert had been planned for Thursday.^[4]

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Gergiev, the artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg for more than 25 years, said: I am aware of the gay rights protest that took place at the Barbican last week prior to my concert with the LSO. I have said before that I do not discriminate against anyone, gay or otherwise, and never have done, and as head of the Mariinsky Theatre this is our policy.

"It is wrong to suggest that I have ever supported anti-gay legislation and in all my work I have upheld equal rights for all people.

"I am an artist and have for over three decades worked with tens of thousands of people in dozens of countries from all walks of life and many of them are indeed my friends.

"I collaborate with and support all my colleagues in the endeavour for music and art. This is my focus as a conductor, musician, artist and as artistic and general director of the Mariinsky Theatre and principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra."