​Massive Attack pull out of Georgia gig in solidarity with anti-government protesters

Massive Attack have pulled out of their show at Black Sea Arena in Georgia next month in solidarity with anti-government protests across the country.

The group shared the news on social media earlier this week (June 12), explaining: “We’ve decided to cancel our show in Georgia on 28 July in protest of the Georgian government’s attack on basic human rights”.

Their cancellation comes amidst nationwide protests across Georgia in opposition to a newly proposed law on the “Transparency of Foreign Influence”, which requires NGOs to disclose their income if more than 20% of any funding they receive is from outside Georgia.

Read this next: Georgian festival 4GB called off amidst nationwide protests

The law, which was established to “protect Georgia’s sovereignty from foreign influences”, has been compared to the Russian foreign agent law.

“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,” they explained.

They added: “Beatings, arrests, threats, and violence against peaceful protesters, activists, and opponents, along with laws smearing civil society and denying LGBTI rights, go against everything we stand for.”

Read this next: Electronic music academy launched for aspiring artists in Tbilisi

Over recent months, hundreds of thousands of people have stood in protest against the Georgian government outside parliament in Tbilisi.

Protests across Tbilisi have been backed by the city’s club community, including the likes of Bassiani, KHIDI, and TES. Bassiani spoke on the “current dire circumstances in Georgia” in an Instagram post last month.

In May, Georgian electronic music festival 4GB cancelled its 2024 edition amidst political unrest in the country just days before it was due to go ahead.

Massive Attack gave their support for “peaceful protesters in Georgia defying state violence”, adding that they will return to Georgia “in freedom” in the future.

Gemma Ross is Mixmag’s Assistant Editor, follow her on Twitter