Composer Goran Bregovic denied entry into Moldova

Goran Bregović — Attila Kisbenedek/AFP (arhiva) | Attila Kisbenedek/AFP (arhiva)

The organizers of the Gustar Music Festival in Chisinau said world-famous musician Goran Bregovic was denied entry into Moldova even though he had landed at Chisinau airport on Sunday, Sputnik reported.

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Bregovic apologized to the festival audience for not being able to perform because he was refused entry into the country at the Chisinau airport without any official explanation.

“I tour extensively with my musicians all over Europe and have never had any difficulties anywhere. I love your country very much and it is a pleasure for me to respond to the opportunity to perform in Moldova, especially at such a colourful and unique festival as Gustar. I am very sorry that I have been deprived of the joy and pleasure of appearing in front of you this time,” said Bregovic in a statement posted on the festival organizer’s website.

The Serbian Foreign Affairs Ministry has requested an explanation from the Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding this country’s refusal to allow Bregovic into the country, said Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.

He told the Tanjug news agency that this decision in not in line with the traditionally friendly relations between Serbia and Moldova, that it triggered negative reactions and has been condemned by the public in Serbia.

During Bregovic’s performance at the Beer Fest in Albania in 2021 a tear gas bottle was thrown in his direction. This was preceded by a strong negative media and public campaign due to which almost all the program participants from Kosovo cancelled their appearance at the festival. Bregovic was accused by some from Kosovo of “inspiring massacres in Kosovo” and of being “the idol of Serbia’s criminal army during the wars in former Yugoslvia.”

Back then the organizers of the festival did not succumb to the pressures, and the “medieval hysteria” against the celebrated Yugoslav musicians was also condemned by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

In February this year the Moldovan authorities banned Belgrade’s football club Partizan supporters from entering the country. They had traveled to Chisinau for a football match between the Partizan FC and the Moldovan Sheriff Tiraspol FC.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu had previously accused Russia of planning a coup in her country with the help of foreigners,including Serbs, Montenegrins and Belarusians.

Serbian Internal Affairs Minister Ivica Dacic denied these allegations, demanding that that Moldovan authorities provide Serbia will all evidence in this case.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic then spoke on the phone with President Sandu and, according to a press release issued by Vucic’s office, they agreed that relations between the Serbian and Moldovan peoples are friendly, and that potentially outstanding issues would be resolved by agreement.

Teme