Valery Meladze responds to critics for his words in support of Ukraine

Valery Meladze, a Georgian singer living and working in Russia for many years and leaving the latter after its invasion of Ukraine in late February, on Wednesday responded to critical comments over a social media post involving him, in which he says “glory to Ukraine”. 

“I only dream that the antagonism will stop and unity will be established between the neighboring nations”, Meladze said in his social media post.  

 

“People, I want you to listen to me and understand my words. For 10 months now, me, like many other people, have been living with a feeling of heaviness and sadness. It so happened that the nations that are very dear to me are in conflict, because of which people are dying. I cannot and do not want to hate anyone and I am  not trying to please anyone. I only dream that the antagonism will stop and unity will be established between the neighboring nations”, he noted. 

Yelena Afanasyeva, a Russian lawmaker, on Tuesday called for the revoking of Meladze’s Russian citizenship, calling him a “traitor”.