An international ballet star who fled Russia in the wake of Putin’s attack on Ukraine has admitted she ‘did not feel safe’ staying in her native country.
Olga Smirnova, 30, is a world-renowned dancer and one of Bolshoi Ballet’s biggest stars, but earlier this month she sent shockwaves through the industry when she announced she was leaving Moscow for Amsterdam’s Dutch National Ballet (DNB).
Speaking in a new interview, the acclaimed ballerina explained she is against the war ‘with all the fibres of my soul’.
She told The Guardian: “I never thought that I would be ashamed of Russia … But now the line is drawn on the before and after.”
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Smirnova told the paper that her life ‘totally changed in a single day’, explaining: “In the morning, I did not know I was going to leave Russia. And in the night, I was sitting on the plane.”
The Bolshoi Ballet has had close ties to the Kremlin for some time.
After Vladimir Urin, the Bolshoi theatre’s general director, signed a letter against Russia’s war in Ukraine, Putin hinted he would be forced out.
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Putin suggested the Bolshoi be merged with St Petersburg’s Mariinsky theatre, which is run by Putin loyalist Valery Gergiev.
But although no direct threat from authorities has been made to Smirnova, she told the paper she ‘could sense the atmosphere was tense in Russia’.
She shared: “International flights were being cancelled and there were rumours the borders would be closed, so we decided to leave. We didn’t want to risk it and wait longer.”
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Smirnova had five hours to pack her belongings once she decided to leave Russia.
She and her husband first flew to Dubai before jetting onto Amsterdam.
Last month, Smirnova - who has a Ukrainian grandfather - denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a message shared on social media app Telegram.
The ballet star wrote in part: “We can not remain indifferent to this global catastrophe.”
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Of her decision to speak out despite Russia’s crackdown on protestors and strict censorship rules, Smirnova said: “I never followed politics. But politics became impossible to ignore, which is why I spoke out against the war.
“War is an unacceptable way in our civilised world to resolve any conflict.”
Smirnova’s parents remain in Russia and she admitted she worries for her country’s future relationship with the world, saying: “It’s really painful, because it’s also about the reputation of the whole Russian people.
“Russia’s reputation has been severely damaged by the actions of Russia’s government.”
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The ballerina concluded that she’ll stay in Amsterdam for the foreseeable future, as a return to Russia will likely mean she must retract her anti-war statements, something she isn’t willing to do.
“There’s no way I can do that," she explained, noting that despite wanting to see her parents, St Petersburg’s uncertain future means a return is off the cards.
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Aisha Nozari