The head of the AfD parliamentary group sees the involvement of the group's foreign policy spokesperson, Matthias Moosdorf, at a Moscow music academy as problematic. The Russians are among the world leaders when it comes to classical music, First Parliamentary Secretary Bernd Baumann told journalists in Berlin. "However, this also has a political component," he added.
"We are in talks with Mr. Moosdorf"
The AfD parliamentary group's executive committee discussed the issue on Monday. "We are in talks with Mr. Moosdorf." He did not say what this meant in concrete terms. Just this much: the war in Ukraine had been labeled a war of aggression and condemned. This is about Russia and classical music.
"But nevertheless, these threads are to be judged differently here than if this were simply a professorship somewhere abroad. We see a problem there and that's where the talks are heading."
Moosdorf had confirmed that he has had a part-time job as an honorary professor at the internationally renowned Moscow Gnessin Academy of Music since September. The cellist wrote in a statement that it was above all a sign of understanding. Music knows no ideological boundaries.
The 59-year-old, who sits in the Bundestag for the Saxon AfD, said he spent three days "privately in Moscow" in September. "I intend to spend several days there once a quarter teaching chamber music to ensembles. No contracts have yet been discussed," he added. He could not recognize any political orientation of the Gnessin Academy. Nor is he interested in it. The academy is funded by the Russian Ministry of Culture.
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