Vitaly Borodin, head of the Federal Project on Security and Fighting Corruption, has called for an end to honoring Latvian composer Raimonds Pauls in Russia. Writing on his Telegram channel, Borodin raised objections to a creative evening dedicated to Pauls at the New Wave 2026 music festival.
Borodin drew attention to the tribute taking place against a backdrop of tense relations between the two countries, stating that Latvia maintains a hostile stance toward Russia. He argued that Russian society has raised a valid question for festival organizers and television network editors about whether it is time to set proper priorities in culture.
In place of Pauls, Borodin called for organizing a large scale evening in honor of Russian composer Alexander Zatsepin. He described Zatsepin's music as the DNA of Russian cinema and national culture.
Background and Cultural Stance
The Federal Project on Security and Fighting Corruption, known as FPBK, is a Russian public organization that frequently appeals to state authorities and media bodies regarding public figures, cultural events, and perceived ideological violations.
The New Wave festival is an annual international contest for young pop singers founded in 2002 by Pauls alongside Russian composer Igor Krutoy. Originally hosted in the Latvian seaside resort of Jurmala, the event relocated to Sochi, Russia, in 2015 following geopolitical disputes between Moscow and Riga.
Pauls is a celebrated pianist and former Minister of Culture of Latvia who rose to fame across the Soviet Union for writing classic pop songs, including hits for Alla Pugacheva, as well as scores for theater and film.
Composer Denies Local Restrictions
The call to stop honoring Pauls follows earlier comments from the composer regarding his status in Latvia. Pauls stated that nobody had banned him from performing his songs in his home country, and he accused journalists of twisting his words.
Zatsepin, a Soviet and Russian composer who turned 100 in 2026, is widely recognized for scoring some of the most popular Soviet comedy films, including classic pictures directed by Leonid Gaidai. His melodies remain among the most familiar in Russian cinematic history.
