Adedokun Waliyu 
Rapper Kanye West’s announcement of two stadium concerts in Russia later this year has sparked intense interest in the country, with President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman even being asked whether a meeting between the two was being considered.
West, who also performs under the stage name Ye, is scheduled to perform at the Gazprom Arena in Saint Petersburg on October 10 and 11. The concerts would be the biggest performances by a Western artist in Russia since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Most American and European artists have avoided Russia, which was hit by extensive sanctions following the start of the war.
West has a strong following in Russia, and Russian media reported that more than 100,000 tickets had already been sold, citing concert promoters.
During a daily briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked whether there were plans for Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet West.
“This is not our area. This is not ‘Mosconcert’,” Peskov said, referring to a Russian cultural agency.
“This is the presidential administration,” he added, without explicitly ruling out a meeting.
Lawmakers and officials have also joined the discussion surrounding West’s planned concerts.
One lawmaker thanked the rapper for not giving in to what he described as “anti-Russian hysteria.” However, MP Nikolai Novichkov has also criticised West over statements in which the rapper glorified Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
West previously sparked widespread outrage over comments praising Hitler, a song titled “Heil Hitler” and the sale of T-shirts bearing a swastika on his website.
Under Russia’s law against the rehabilitation of Nazism, Holocaust denial and the dissemination of false information about the Third Reich can result in years of imprisonment. The law has also been used against critics of the Kremlin.
Several countries, including the United Kingdom, France and Poland, have banned West from performing this year.
