Sabah says Maxim Galkin’s Istanbul show will not go ahead

Maxim Galkin’s comedy show scheduled for October 25 in Istanbul will not go ahead, Türkiye’s Sabah newspaper reported. The show faced criticism in Türkiye over the comedian’s statements supporting Israel.

Comedian Maxim Galkin’s performance scheduled for October 25 at the Istanbul Congress Center in the Harbiye district will not go ahead, Türkiye’s Sabah newspaper reported. The report said a permit for the event had not been issued. Sabah did not identify who made the decision, and the organizers have not yet released an official statement.

The Istanbul concert was part of Galkin’s “50!” anniversary tour, during which he performed in Burgas, Łódź, Poznań, Amsterdam and Copenhagen.

Poster for Galkin’s “50!” anniversary tour featuring Istanbul

The show announcement prompted criticism on Turkish social media and from civil society organizations because of Galkin’s statements about the war in Gaza. The comedian had previously described Israeli strikes as “legitimate self-defense” and appeared on stage with an Israeli flag.

Not the first cancellation

Galkin’s performances had previously been canceled in Thailand and Kazakhstan. In Russia, the artist was designated a “foreign agent” in 2022 after condemning the war in Ukraine, and he has lived abroad ever since.