Ukraine Embassy Urges MSU to Cancel Russian Violinist Vadim Repin

The Embassy of Ukraine in the United States is requesting Michigan State University cancel a scheduled virtual masterclass featuring Russian violinist Vadim Repin, citing his alleged connections to the Kremlin.

The request, which The State News obtained and verified with the Embassy, asks President Kevin Guskiewicz to “terminate the cooperation” with the musician.

Repin is currently set to host the public virtual event on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The Embassy’s formal request centers on what it describes as Repin’s strong ties to the Russian government and his role in supporting its military actions.

Denys Sienik, the Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires, expressed “serious concerns” regarding the funding of the Vadim Repin Foundation for the Development of the Arts. According to the letter, the foundation has received more than 100 million rubles from Russia’s Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.

The Embassy notes that this specific fund reports directly to the Russian presidential administration. Daria Haidai, a political counselor for the Embassy, wrote to The State News that the embassy urges the university to cancel the event because Repin has a “strong connection with the Kremlin regime and supporting its war of aggression.”

The Embassy further characterized Repin’s presence as part of a broader effort to manage international perception during the conflict.

“Mr. Repin is a part of Russian propaganda efforts to improve its international image and hide the truth about daily horrific attacks against Ukrainian civilians,” the letter states.”

The letter also highlights Repin’s participation in a February 2024 concert with the State Kremlin Orchestra. That performance was organized by the Kremlin Foundation for Defender of the Fatherland Day, an event the Embassy says was framed as a tribute to Russia’s military defenders.

🇺🇦 The Embassy of Ukraine in the USA calls on @michiganstateu and the Michigan State University College of Music to cancel the virtual masterclass featuring Russian violinist Vadim Repin, scheduled for November 11. Repin has well-documented ties to the Russian government. Since… pic.twitter.com/lBptFBoYil

— Post by @UKRintheUSA on X

The Embassy argued that providing Repin with a platform at MSU would send a damaging message to Russian artists who have chosen to publicly condemn the war. The letter pointed out that other musical institutions, including the Palm Beach Symphony and the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra, have already canceled scheduled appearances by Repin.

The human cost of the conflict is a central theme in the Embassy’s appeal. The letter notes that more than 250 Ukrainian artists have been killed since Russia’s invasion began.

MSU has a history of addressing the conflict through official channels. Former President Samuel L. Stanley Jr. issued a campus-wide email in 2022 condemning the invasion. Additionally, the university’s Center for European and Eurasian Studies previously released a statement condemning the full-scale invasion, which was signed by 38 university professors.

Ukraine Embassy Urges MSU to Cancel Russian Violinist Vadim Repin

While the Embassy expressed appreciation for MSU’s support of Ukrainian students and the development of Ukrainian studies, it maintains that the masterclass remains a point of contention. An MSU spokesperson was not immediately available for comment regarding the Embassy’s request.

The correspondence was copied to several university officials, including College of Music Dean James Forger, Professor Emeritus of Psychology Lauren Julius Harris, and Volodymyr Tarabara, the director of the Center for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies.