The Prima Vista festival has cancelled the performances of Linor Goralik

The Prima Vista festival has cancelled the performances of Linor Goralik (Israel), who leads the online publication ROAR (Russian Oppositional Arts Review / Resistance and Opposition Arts Review), due to controversial information about her activities that has created tensions among other foreign guests of the festival. As a result, Ukrainian writers Anna Gruver and Olena Huseinova (the latter is currently the writer-in-residence of Tartu UNESCO City of Literature) have already withdrawn from the festival.

“Prima Vista has a long-standing tradition of inviting Russian oppositionists and dissidents to the festival, who have been warmly welcomed by the local Russian-speaking audience and a wider circle of literary enthusiasts. This also led to the invitation of Linor Goralik to the festival,” commented Krista Aru, chairwoman of the festival board. “The Prima Vista organising team has had no reason to doubt Linor Goralik’s opposition to Putin and support for Ukraine, but given the tensions and reactions that have arisen, we currently see no other solution than to cancel her performances. We still consider it important to offer freedom of speech and opportunities for discussion, but in order to alleviate tensions, we must make difficult choices. Above all, we must show strong support for Ukraine in this war.”