The Romanian pop band Morandi is facing legal and reputational risks over its planned concert in the Russian-occupied city of Sukhumi, a move that has reignited debate over the consequences for foreign artists performing in territories internationally recognized as part of Georgia but controlled by Russian-backed separatist authorities.
The concert is part of the band’s regional tour, which also includes performances in Russia and Belarus, according to the band’s schedule.
Georgia Considers Abkhazia Occupied Territory
The United States, the European Union, NATO, and the overwhelming majority of the international community recognize Abkhazia as part of Georgia, while Russia maintains thousands of troops in the region.
Following the 2008 Russia-Georgia war, Moscow recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states, a position rejected by virtually all Western governments.
Georgia describes the region as being under Russian military occupation, with the planned concert scheduled to take place in Sukhumi, the administrative center of occupied Abkhazia.
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Legal Consequences for Morandi
Georgia’s Law on Occupied Territories, adopted in 2008, regulates entry into Abkhazia and the Tskhinvali region, with foreign citizens generally required to enter Abkhazia through territory controlled by the Georgian government.
Entering Abkhazia from Russia without authorization from Georgian authorities is considered illegal, and unauthorized economic, commercial, and certain public activities in occupied territories may also violate Georgian legislation.
Violators may face criminal or administrative liability under Georgian law, depending on the circumstances and any subsequent amendments applied by Georgian authorities.
Morandi could face several consequences under Georgian law and international practice if they enter occupied Abkhazia directly from Russia without authorization from Tbilisi.
Risks and Consequences
These consequences include investigation by Georgian authorities for illegal entry into occupied territory, possible prohibition on entering Georgia in the future, and criminal or administrative proceedings should the members later come within Georgian jurisdiction.
The band may also face damage to their reputation among audiences and promoters in countries supporting Ukraine and Georgia’s territorial integrity, as well as potential exclusion from festivals or partnerships with organizations that maintain policies against performances in occupied territories.
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While concerts in Russia have become increasingly rare for major Western performers following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, some artists from Europe continue to tour Russia and territories under Russian occupation, exposing themselves to potential legal restrictions and reputational damage.
In the case of Morandi, the band’s decision to perform in occupied Abkhazia may have significant implications for their reputation and future career prospects.
As the international community continues to grapple with the complexities of Russia’s occupation of Georgian territories, the planned concert by Morandi serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding cultural exchange and artistic expression in conflict zones.
According to the report, Morandi was one of the most popular Romanian acts in Ukraine during the late 2000s, with their song “Angels” becoming one of the biggest digital hits in Ukraine and Russia, and the group performed numerous concerts there before Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Morandi told journalists they will perform alone without their bandmate, in what appears to be the first known case in which the band has been publicly associated with performing in a territory internationally recognized as occupied.
