FILE PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) awards Mariinsky Theatre's Artistic Director Valery Gergiev during a ceremony at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, September 22, 2016. REUTERS/Ivan Sekretarev/Pool/File Photo
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday accused Italy of discrimination and said it had caved into misplaced Ukrainian lobbying after Italian authorities cancelled a classical music concert by Russian conductor Valery Gergiev.
Gergiev, who is an admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, had been expected to lead an Italian orchestra and soloists from St Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre, which he heads, on July 27.
The Reggia di Caserta, a grand 18th-century palace near Naples which had been due to host the concert, said in a short statement on Monday that the event had been called off. It gave no reason.
It made the statement after criticism from Italian politicians and activists, including the wife of late Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny, who objected to the concert because of Gergiev's association with Putin and Moscow's war in Ukraine.
(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
