Russian comedy group’s Kazakhstan tour canceled after its members receive backlash for visiting occupied Ukrainian territory

Organizers have cancelled the Kazakhstan tour of the popular Russian sketch comedy group Kamyzyaki after the comics faced backlash in the country for visiting Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine.

“In light of the public’s widespread negative reaction to the high-profile public actions of the artists in Kamyzyaki, the team of organizers has made the decision to cancel Kamyzyaki’s entire tour in Kazakhstan,” organizer Olga Li wrote on Instagram.

On September 8, Kamyzyaki took part in a concert on annexed territory in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Shortly after, Kazakhstani Internet users launched a petition demanding the cancellation of the group’s Kazakhstan tour. “We, Kazakhstanis, don’t wish to see people in our country who support aggression against the sovereign country of Ukraine,” read the document. It received more than 18,000 signatures.