Several outstanding musicians of our time have been forced to cancel performances at the festival jazz Koktebel Jazz Party in Crimea, said the founders of the festival, the General Director of MIA "Russia today" Dmitry Kiselev.
"First, the great trumpeter of our time, Arturo Sandoval, With whom was the agreement on the performance at the Koktebel Jazz Party, sent through his producer apology and said about the impossibility to come to the Crimea. If you get to speak in Koktebel, then he risks and rewards and penalties. Producer Sandoval Frank Vardaros says: "there's nothing We can do about it, it turns out that Arturo would have to violate the law and subject to fines and penalties. Our apologies! If the laws change, We will be happy to come, but at the moment It is impossible ", - quoted Kiseleva on the Internet office of RIA " Novosti ".
"The other news is that the hands have been twisted and German band De Phazz. From veterans of the jazz festival in Koktebel received a letter where they describe the unprecedented pressure and the danger they face just for the intention to participate in Koktebel Jazz Party of the current year: "Political pressure is currently too high. I think you know our position on Crimea is difficult. We tried not to take It into consideration, but I'm afraid We didn't understand the seriousness of the situation, " said Kiselev." Jazz festival in Koktebel I founded in 2003. Since then we have visited hundreds of musicians from around the world. Yes and in the past year in Koktebel played outstanding Musicians from the U.S. and Latin America, Western Europe, Asia and CIS countries. Never in Ukrainian period, nor when Crimea voluntarily reunited With Russia, We do not have politicized jazz. We just wanted to do a happy people, bright international cultural event in the 1st of the most beautiful places in the world, " said television presenter." Musicians are not politicians. Understand that and Arturo Sandoval, and the group De Phazz did not take decisions themselves not to go to Koktebel. This decision was made for them by those in whose power to threaten and, figuratively speaking, to twist arms, " he said." Jazz festival in Koktebel will take place one way or another, " he promised Kiselev.- I hope that the Musicians and the audience who are going to Koktebel Jazz Party 28-30 August, will support our event that still We are not going to turn into a Political battlefield. Jazz has always been above that."

sections: Politics