Galkin's phrase about apology practice in Chechnya voiced at concerts criticizing Putin

Maxim Galkin did not want to give a concert in Chechnya, where people were forced to apologize for their statements about the power, and that fact emphasized his critical attitude to the political atmosphere in Russia. In the course of his concerts in Rostov-on-Don and Krasnodar, Maxim Galkin ridiculed the methods of the Vladimir Putin's ruling and the corruption of officials, in particular, Rauf Arashukov.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that some YouTube users found the artist's statements worthy of respect, while others decided that Maxim Galkin was afraid of the Chechen authorities.

At a concert in Rostov-on-Don held on October 29, Maxim Galkin voiced a joke concerning the fact that Vladimir Putin was invariably winning the presidential election. "It's difficult for him, since he needs to pretend before the West that we have democracy in our country. But we all understand that we have elected the president long ago, back under the tsar's ruling," Maxim Galkin joked.

The comedian also criticized the practice of censorship on federal TV channels.

Let us remind you that the Maxim Galkin's phrases about his reluctance to give a concert in Chechnya came amid the cases of cancellation of other artists' concerts in Northern Caucasus. So, in September 2018, the Timati's music label "Black Star" cancelled concerts in Makhachkala of its two rappers MC Doni and Egor Kreed because of the "uneasy situation at the place."