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Canada sanctions Putin’s star conductor Valery Gergiev in latest crackdown on Russia’s inner circle
The Canadian government has imposed sanctions on famed Russian conductor Valery Gergiev — one of Vladimir Putin’s most prominent cultural allies — as part of a new round of measures targeting Russia’s inner circle and war machine.
The announcement came following talks between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G7 summit, where global leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine and condemned Russia’s ongoing invasion.
Gergiev, currently the general and artistic director of the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg and the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, has been a vocal supporter of Putin for years. His public endorsement of the Russian president — including appearing in a 2012 election campaign video — earned him the Hero of Labour of the Russian Federation award in 2013, a Soviet-era honour revived by Putin specifically for him.
Now, the internationally renowned maestro finds himself on Canada’s sanctions list, alongside 43 other individuals and entities identified as close to the Kremlin. The sanctions freeze Canadian assets and bar entry into the country.
The move is particularly notable as it represents one of the few times a high-profile cultural figure has been officially sanctioned by a Western government.
Gergiev’s fortunes in the West have plummeted since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He was swiftly dropped by leading cultural institutions including the Munich Philharmonic (where he served as chief conductor), the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan Opera, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, and BIS Records.
The new sanctions, detailed on the Canadian government’s website, emphasize that the actions of the Russian Federation “constitute a grave breach of international peace and security.”
In addition to Gergiev, the package targets Putin’s ex-wife — the first time she’s been formally sanctioned by any country — and a number of companies and ships believed to be part of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” used to quietly export oil and fund its war effort.
Canada also pledged $2 billion in new military aid to Ukraine, including helicopters, drones, ammunition, and armoured vehicles.
Speaking at the summit, Carney strongly condemned the latest attacks from Russia. “This underscores the importance of standing in total solidarity with Ukraine, with the Ukrainian people,” he said.
Zelenskyy, for his part, welcomed the new measures and reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate peace — provided the international community keeps the pressure on Moscow.
“It’s a big tragedy for us, and we need support from our allies,” he said. “We are ready for peace negotiations… but for this, we need pressure.”
While G7 leaders largely supported tougher action, U.S. President Donald Trump resisted calls to expand American sanctions, arguing they were too costly to the U.S. economy and hinting he would act on his own timeline.
Still, Canada’s inclusion of Gergiev — a cultural icon once embraced by the international music world — sends a strong signal: no figure, however prestigious, is above accountability when it comes to supporting a regime waging war.