Mark Knopfler cancels gigs in Russia due to political reasons
Founder of Dire Straits stated this was his protest against harassment of human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
Knopfler
planned to play in Moscow and St. Petersburg this June.
ВВС reminds, checkings in the Russian
non-governmental organizations have started since the end of March. The Russian
authorities insist that the checkings are held to evaluate whether the
organizations' activity corresponds with their statute goals and the Russian legislation.
HR defenders say that they consider the mentioned checkings as means of
pressure over the civil society.
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