There was a frank exchange of views on Liveline today about the merits of boycotting Russian participants in cultural events, on foot of the announcement by the Dublin International Piano Competition (DIPC) that, due to the invasion of Ukraine, Russian competitors will be excluded from the 2022 event. This action has been welcomed by some and criticised by others, inside and outside of the world of music. Joe read the DIPC statement on air:

"In unity with our colleagues in the arts across the world, the Dublin International Piano Competition condemns the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. We recognise individuals may not reflect or support a government's conduct, but in light of Russia’s actions, we are unable to include competitors from Russia in the 2022 Competition."

Adrian Smith is a Lecturer in Musicology at TU Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama and he told Joe on Liveline that while he condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine, calling it "an absolutely hideous crime", he is against this action by the DIPC:

"I think punishing absolutely innocent classical musicians is the wrong thing to do, principally for two reasons. The first is, if we’re going to impose a cultural boycott on Russia, we can’t be naive about this. Many great powers, China, the United States have perpetuated crimes. If we talk about the United States’ illegal invasion of Iraq, we talk about concentration camps in China of the Uyghurs, it’s hypocritical to single out Russia."

Adrian’s second reason, as he explained to Joe, is that he doesn’t see what a ban will achieve. Adrian says that his friends and contacts in Russia can make no sense of it and he doesn’t see any concrete benefits to a ban on classical musicians:

"I don’t see what the end game here is."

The competitors are not state-sponsored, Adrian says and he thinks that independent Russian artists and companies should not be excluded from international events, nor should they be asked to take a public position. Adrian believes that performers and athletes should not be forced to become political, especially in circumstances that are potentially dangerous to them personally:

"I think it’s very, very wrong to expect musicians, sports people, who have never made a political statement in their life, to all of a sudden come out and condemn the Putin regime. First of all, it’s dangerous; the conditions in Russia now are very dangerous for innocent people who want to protest. So, expecting an innocent classical musician who has got nothing to do with war, to suddenly condemn the war and Putin."

Joe added some context and recent history into the discussion, citing reports claiming that Russian forces used chemical weapons in Syria, causing the gruesome deaths of children and adults. Listener David Salmon took an alternative view to Adrian, in that he supports the DIPC ban on Russian musicians. David raised the point that the Russian attack on Ukraine will lead to the destruction of great works of art, such as paintings and buildings:

"Art is art, regardless of whether it’s painting, it’s museums or literature. We have to make a stand. You cannot have an authoritarian state, as Russia is, literally destroying absolutely everything in the magnificent city of Kyiv, and Ukraine. It is just an absolute atrocity."

Both speakers agree that the invasion is an atrocity, but Adrian says that he is looking for consistency in cultural boycotts, if we are to have them at all. Adrian Smith says that he thinks a ban is appropriate for artists who have a clear connection with the Russian president, such as the Russian conductor who was fired from his job in Germany earlier this month:

"We should be boycotting very severely those people who are associated with Vladimir Putin and that is why I absolutely support the Munich Orchestra getting rid of Valery Gergiev – anyone that supports Vladimir Putin."

Caller David Salmon, who is in favour of cultural boycotts also thinks that NATO and Ireland should find a way to get involved in the conflict, in defence of Ukraine:

"If you look at Ireland in its history, Ireland has always stood up for the underdog. In this particular case, Ukraine is the underdog. They are absolutely being annihilated by Russia and we are doing nothing."

Several other callers gave their views on the cultural boycott debate, including an Irish truck driver who wrote to his Russian clients terminating his business with them and you can listen back to the full discussion on Liveline here .