As artists and organizations around the world express their solidarity with Ukraine, the National Opera Houses of Lithuania and Estonia have released a joint statement declaring their support.

In a press release, the houses stressed the severity of the military action from the Russian forces, which has seen extensive destruction through several Ukrainian cities and has begun to displace their people.

The statement is as follows:

“At the moment, there is a real war happening in Europe: military operations of this scale have not taken place since the beginning of World War II. People are seeking shelter, they are forced to escape their homeland and bombs are flying into their homes.

This statement is call on the European opera community to respond and to end any cooperation with the Russian Federation. There are no justifications for war, and as unfortunate as it is, theatres in Russia are part of the common state that is carrying out large-scale attacks. It is very important to understand that if we do not stop this war machine, in which even artists become part of the regime and propaganda, the next day those military tanks will stand in the Baltic States and move on to Europe through them.

Our statement:

1. Lithuanian and Estonian national opera houses strongly condemn the act of barbarity against Ukrainian state and its people. Today, the Russian Federation openly states that it has the right to decide with brutal force whether its neighbors have the right to live, develop and prosper. This is utterly unacceptable and reflects the real way of thinking of this country and its people.

2. We demand that all Russian and Byelorussian members openly condemn the aggression of Russian Federation and Belarus against Ukraine.

3. If Russian and Byelorussian members refuse to condemn the aggression, their Opera Europa membership must be cancelled. Otherwise, we will not be able to remain with those who justify war in Europe.”