28.03.2024

Putin Calls Vienna Attack ‘Cruel and Cynical Crime’

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday called the Vienna shooting a «cruel and cynical» crime in a condolences telegram to the Austrian leadership.

Four people were killed in multiple shootings in Vienna on Monday evening in what Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz described as a «repulsive terror attack».

In the telegram to Kurz and Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, Putin «strongly condemned the cruel and cynical crime which once again confirmed the inhumane nature of terrorism».

He «expressed confidence that forces of terror will not be able to threaten anyone or sow discord and enmity among people of different religions,» said a statement on the Kremlin website.

«Putin confirmed Russia’s readiness to step up cooperation with Austria and other members of the global community in the fight against all forms and manifestations of terrorism,» it said.

Putin «conveyed words of sympathy and support to the family and friends of the victims and also wished all the wounded a quick recovery».

World AIDS Day in Moscow Kicks Off a Month of Events

As one virus sweeps the globe, the Voznesensky Center in Moscow has joined with several arts and non-governmental organizations to launch a nearly month-long series events to mark a battle against another virus, HIV. The project, called “Of the Same Blood,” will start on Dec. 1, World AIDS Day, and run until Dec. 22. More than 20 lectures, discussions, concerts, performances, films, plays and other events will be held, and the will all be transmitted online.

Participants include some of the most famous and cutting-edge cultural figures in Russia today, such as the writer Lenor Goralik, director Vladislav Nastavshev, artist Olga Kroiter, leader and soloist of KYMATIC Alina Petrova, and many others.

Olga Vartseva, director of the Voznesensky Center and director of the project, explained the group’s interest in this project. “We don’t know anything about the effect of the HIV epidemic on Russian culture, either in historical perspective or as it unfolds before us. People with HIV feel that they are not represented in films, books, and paintings, and that their voices are the voices of outsiders. The project “Of the Same Blood” is an attempt to tear down the illusory wall of stigma and not just give back HIV-positive people their voices, but to show that they are no different than all the other voices in the world.”

You can learn more about center and this project here and find the schedule of events and register here. The list of events continues to grow, so check back to see what else has been added.

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