Although the politically-charged violence that plagued Ukraine subsided over the weekend, Depeche Mode have no intentions of playing a concert this week in its capital city of Kiev, where much of the death and destruction was focused.
Today, the band formally cancelled a concert scheduled for this Wednesday, Feb. 26 at Kiev’s International Exhibition Center due to “current civil unrest and instability in Kiev and the whole of Ukraine.”
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Says a statement on Depeche Mode’s official site:
“The safety and security of the band, crew and fans is the highest priority, and at this time it is not possible to ensure a safe and enjoyable concert experience for everyone involved… The band’s thoughts are with the Ukrainians during this challenging period and they sincerely look forward to the next time they can perform for the fans in Kiev and Ukraine.”
The statement also mentions that ticket holders should seek refunds from the ticketing vendor or box office where their tickets were purchased.
Months of violent unrest in Kiev cooled this weekend, as president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted from the capitol. Protestors blamed the alleged dictator for setting the military against civilians and enacting anti-protest laws. According to the New York Times, clashes between protestors and police/security left 82 dead last week.
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Depeche Mode are playing in Lodz, Poland tonight (Feb. 24), and through early March the winter leg of their Delta Machine Tour will take them and openers Choir of Young Believers to Belarus, Latvia, and Russia.
This article first appeared on Billboard.com.
