Violinist Keith Pascoe will not participate in a concert which RTÉ’s Vanbrugh Quartet is to perfiorm at the Russian-Irish festival in Moscow this December. He is protesting against recent anti-gay laws passed in Russia. In a statement, Mr. Pascoe said: “Being gay myself I felt this the best way to highlight the pernicious laws that are in force now: a license for homophobic bullying in schools and a green light to gaybashers all over Russia. I think many musicians will sooner or later realise what serious consequences these laws will have on Russians and on the safety of visiting LGBT people, whether musicians or not. » The musician asked for another violinist to replace him.

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