Massive Attack cancel show in Georgia in protest at government
Amid police violence at peaceful protests in Georgia, Massive Attack have cancelled a scheduled performance in the European country.
Over recent months, the streets of Tbilisi have been filled with protests after parliament voted through a controversial new bill, which has been labelled the “foreign agents law”. The new regulation has supposedly been introduced to reduce foreign money entering Georgia, and media or non-governmantal organisations that receive over 20 per cent of their funding from other countries will now have to establish themselves as “organisations acting in the interest of a foreign power”.
Although President Salome Zourabishvili attempted to veto the bill, the MPs in the region passed it through anyway, and it’s set to come into action later this summer.
While those in favour of the bill have claimed it has been put in place to protect transparency, the EU and many others who are against the “foreign agents law” have made comparisons with a similar bill that was passed in Russia.
Furthermore, in the protests against the bill, many have claimed they have been assaulted by police, which has led Massive Attack to withdraw from performing in Georgia.
The Bristolian group were scheduled to perform on July 28th at the Black Sea Arena, but they’ve now confirmed it will no longer occur “in protest of the Georgian government’s attack on basic human rights.”
Taking to X, they explained how the venue’s link to the government was the main reason for their withdrawal, noting, “At this moment, performing at the state-owned Black Sea Arena could be seen as an endorsement of their violent crackdown against peaceful protests and civil society.”
Massive Attack claimed that “beatings, arrests, threats, and violence” had happened “against peaceful protesters, activists, and opponents, along with laws smearing civil society and denying LGBTI rights, go against everything we stand for.”
They concluded their message by stating: “We stand in solidarity with peaceful protesters in Georgia defying state violence & feel that it is their voices that need to be heard and their struggle that needs to be under the international spotlight. We’ll return and perform with you in freedom. #ProtecttheProtest”.
While Massive Attack will not be performing in Georgia this summer, they are set to perform across Europe at a series of festivals, such as Meo Kalarama in Lisbon and Madrid, Rock En Seine in Paris, and Electric Castle in Romania.
Furthermore, on August 25th, Massive Attack are returning home to where it all begin for a performance at Clifton Downs in Bristol. They will be supported on the bill by Killer Mike, Lankum, Sam Morton and DJ Milo.
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