"I Said That This Group Cannot Come Here": The Director of the Sports and Concert Complex on Azerbaijan's Atlantic Records Russia

For several days now, there has been active discussion on the internet regarding the performance of singers from Azerbaijan's Atlantic Records Russia label at the "InDrive Music Fest" on October 23 in Armenia. Among them are several Azerbaijani singers known for their anti-Armenian sentiments, including JONY, Hamali, and Navai, as well as Emin Agalarov. The festival is set to take place at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex in Yerevan.

168.am inquired with Karen Ghazaryan, the director of the Sports and Concert Complex, about whether he was aware that Azerbaijanis would be performing at the venue. "There is no such thing. The Sports and Concert Complex was booked not just for a concert on October 23, but rather for three days of a festival-type event. Various groups and participants will be part of the festival. I have just confirmed that on the 23rd, there will be a group with no Azerbaijanis; they will be Roma performers, their producer is Russian, and they simply work under Agalarov and the label, which also features many Armenian musicians. However, that has not prevented us from informing the organizers that we will not accept this group here, one way or another. Considering that they may not be Azerbaijani, but have collaborations with Azerbaijanis, so to speak, developing their culture and promoting it. Therefore, I told the organizers that this group cannot come here," stated Karen Ghazaryan.