Anger as Russian choristers are barred from Britain

May 8 2008 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

RUSSIAN singers due to perform in a Wirral church have been denied entry into Britain because of the diplomatic spat between their country and the UK, according to a local vicar.

Rev Paul Robinson, of St Hilary’s, in Wallasey sattacked the decision by the Home Office to deny the Ensemble Soloists of St Petersburg entry to Britain for their concert later this month.

He said: "They have been here before – but the political spat between Russia and Britain has got in the way."

Rev Robinson said it was all the more unfair given the Russian authorities’ decision to give football fans travelling to the Champions League final in Moscow later this month entry to the country without visas if they hold match tickets, and the UK’s flexibility towards fans of Zenit St Petersburg who have qualified for the UEFA Cup final in Manchester.

The Russian group comprises Olga Dubonos (soprano), Anna Kovaleva (soprano ), Elena Musikhina (mezzo-soprano), Dmitri Samsonov (tenor), Yury Strekalovskiy (baritone), Andrey Lebedev (bass profundo).

Although they do not perform together as a group in Russia, they regularly perform in choirs and two are professional singers.

They were due to perform at around 20 churches across the UK. They are paid no fee, but are put up in parishioners’ houses and often transported by churchgoers to their next venue, or given travelling expenses from donations made at their concerts.

Rev Robinson said: "Last time they came, they did some Beatles music – in Russian. They are well- known for performing at the cathedral in St Petersburg. This is our politburo making this decision, not their’s. It’s very petty-minded by the British Government."

Britain and Russia have had a very public diplomatic falling-out since the Alexander Litvinenko case, in which the former Russian intelligence worker was murdered using radioactive material while in London. Despite Scotland Yard officers travelling to Russia to interview suspects in the case, no one has been prosecuted for Mr Litvinenko’s death.

Pam Phelan, from Wallasey, has been in contact with the British Consulate in St Petersburg on behalf of the UK churches trying to negotiate the visas.

Four of the singers had applied and were turned down, and the remaining two decided against applying until their colleagues were successful.

Mrs Phelan said: "I find it galling that the authorities have lifted the restrictions for football fans, but a cultural visit by six people to perform and help raise money for our churches has been flatly refused."

A letter to four of the singers from the British Consulate in St Petersburg said: "I am not satisfied that you meet the requirements of the permit free concession.

"Namely that you are not going to take part in charity concerts or shows or that you are going to take part in cultural events sponsored by government or recognised international organisations or the major art festivals."

A spokesperson from the UK Border Agency said: "All applications for entry clearance are considered on their merits and in accordance with the Immigration Rules."

She said where an application does not meet the requirements of these rules, it will be refused, although some can be appealed.

liammurphy@dailypost.co.uk