Felix Redka accuses Sadovyi of creating list of banned artists

Comedian demands transparency from city mayor

Renowned Ukrainian comedian Felix Redka publicly accused Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi of creating a list of performers banned from performing in the city. According to him, it was precisely because of this list that he was denied the rental of the premises of the municipal institution "Dovzhenko Centre" for a concert.

Redka, who hails from Sumy, emphasised that a similar situation had already occurred for the second time. Previously, when he attempted to rent a hall at the Hnat Khotkevych Palace, he was informed of his presence on the "list of banned artists".

«Так від вас пахне Радянським Союзом більше, ніж від мене, жебрака із Сум. Дорогий пан Андрій, а що це у вас за список заборонених артистів, хто в нього входить і на яких підставах він створений?» (You smell of the Soviet Union more than I do, a beggar from Sumy. Dear Mr Andriy, what is this list of banned artists of yours, who is on it, and on what grounds was it created?), — the artist addressed Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi.

Reason for refusal linked to social media post

According to Redka, this time the concert was cancelled after a post by Taras Khavunka appeared on the Threads service. This individual is a business partner of Lviv city councillor Volodymyr Marusyak, as they are co-owners of the limited liability company "GRAVITAS".

Rental issues in other cities

In addition to Lviv, the comedian reported that he was also denied the rental of performance venues in Khmelnytskyi and Ivano-Frankivsk. These refusals occurred on the same day that Redka published his complaint about the situation in Lviv.