Russian comedian Yevgeny Petrosyan has responded after his wife Tatyana Brukhunova was added to the database of the Ukrainian website Myrotvorets on Tuesday, September 22.
Petrosyan told the news agency TASS that he and his wife knew nothing about the database following reports that she had been listed on the site. He was asked to comment after news of her inclusion emerged earlier in the day.
The Ukrainian website accused Brukhunova of encroaching on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine, as well as expressing support for Russia. Petrosyan himself was previously added to the same database in 2017.
The Myrotvorets database and public figures
Myrotvorets is an independent website based in Kyiv that maintains a public database of individuals considered by its authors to be threats to Ukrainian national security. Launched in 2014, the site regularly lists public figures, artists, politicians, and journalists whom its creators accuse of supporting Russian policy or violating Ukrainian border regulations.
Petrosyan is one of Russia's most prominent television humorists and stage performers. Born in 1945, he became a household name across the former Soviet Union through long running comedy programs on state television, including Krivoye Zerkalo and Anshlag. Brukhunova, who married Petrosyan in 2019, works as the director of his comedy theater company and manages his public projects.
Statements by public figures in Russia regarding their inclusion on foreign blacklists are routinely reported by TASS, a major state owned news agency headquartered in Moscow that serves as a central wire service in the country.
Prior European visa refusal
The addition of Brukhunova to the database follows earlier reports that she was prevented from travelling to Europe. She stated that she was scheduled to fly to Italy to attend Fashion Week, but European authorities rejected her visa application without giving any reason for the decision.
Italy is a member of the European Union and part of the border free Schengen Area, which requires non European visitors to obtain travel entry visas. European Union member states have tightened visa processing rules and eligibility criteria for Russian citizens travelling abroad for cultural, commercial, or entertainment events.
