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Russian conductor Valery Gergiev to hold Palmyra concert | Russian conductor Valery Gergiev to hold Palmyra concert |
(35 minutes later) | |
A renowned Russian conductor will perform in the ruins of Palmyra in Syria on Thursday, Russian media say. | |
Valery Gergiev, who supported Vladimir Putin's presidential run in 2012, will perform at Palmyra's Roman Theatre, Rossiya 24 reported. | Valery Gergiev, who supported Vladimir Putin's presidential run in 2012, will perform at Palmyra's Roman Theatre, Rossiya 24 reported. |
Syrian forces, backed by Russian air strikes, took back Palmyra from the so-called Islamic State (IS) in March. | Syrian forces, backed by Russian air strikes, took back Palmyra from the so-called Islamic State (IS) in March. |
Footage posted by IS showed them carrying out killings in the ancient theatre. | Footage posted by IS showed them carrying out killings in the ancient theatre. |
Rossiya 24 said the concert would be broadcast on Russian television later on Thursday. | Rossiya 24 said the concert would be broadcast on Russian television later on Thursday. |
Palmyra in pictures | Palmyra in pictures |
Mr Gergiev travelled to Syria with the Symphony Orchestra of St Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre, where he is artistic director. | Mr Gergiev travelled to Syria with the Symphony Orchestra of St Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre, where he is artistic director. |
Mr Gergiev also works as the principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. | Mr Gergiev also works as the principal conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra and of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. |
In 2014, he backed Mr Putin over the annexation of the Crimea, and in 2008, performed in the capital of Georgia's South Ossetia region when Russia and Georgia were fighting over the territory. | In 2014, he backed Mr Putin over the annexation of the Crimea, and in 2008, performed in the capital of Georgia's South Ossetia region when Russia and Georgia were fighting over the territory. |
The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says the aim of the performance is to show the world that Russia is helping to bring peace and stability to Syria. | |
But Western officials have criticised the Russian government for not using its influence with President Bashar al-Assad to halt violence in other parts of the country. | |
Islamic State destroyed a number of monuments during their 10-month occupation of Palmyra and its associated Unesco World Heritage site. | Islamic State destroyed a number of monuments during their 10-month occupation of Palmyra and its associated Unesco World Heritage site. |
Two 2,000-year-old temples, an arch and funerary towers were left in ruins. | Two 2,000-year-old temples, an arch and funerary towers were left in ruins. |
The jihadist group, which has also demolished several pre-Islamic sites in neighbouring Iraq, believes that such structures are idolatrous. | The jihadist group, which has also demolished several pre-Islamic sites in neighbouring Iraq, believes that such structures are idolatrous. |
While some treasured monuments were destroyed, much of the ancient city's ruins are intact. | While some treasured monuments were destroyed, much of the ancient city's ruins are intact. |
Meanwhile, Russia's Victory Day military show in Moscow on 9 May will feature aircraft used in the Syria campaign, Russia's RBK news website reports. They include the Sukhoi Su-35 fighter, a new model combat-tested in Syria. |