Russia Criticizes Israeli PM Netanyahu's Talk With Musician Makarevich

Russian officials have expressed dissatisfaction with a conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and musician Andrey Makarevich, particularly regarding Makarevich's support for Israeli military actions against Iran. The discussion, which drew international attention, was first questioned by Alexey Venediktov, former editor-in-chief of Ekho Moskvy radio station, and later by Maria Zakharova, the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Zakharova confirmed that Russian agencies verified the authenticity of a video recording of the conversation. She stated that Makarevich, designated a "foreign agent" in Russia and who left the country in 2022, had previously spoken out against Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine based on his pacifist beliefs. Zakharova questioned Makarevich's discussion with Netanyahu about an "ultimate solution to the Iranian issue" through military force, contrasting it with his prior pacifist stance.

However, the article notes that Makarevich's move to Israel in March 2022 was planned due to the birth of his son, and his criticism was directed at Russia's invasion of Ukraine, not at the concept of defense itself. Zakharova accused the artist of double standards, citing his support for Israel's actions in Gaza and his discussion of military solutions for the Iranian issue with Netanyahu.

Zakharova also criticized Makarevich for remaining silent after Netanyahu's remarks about a 60% reduction in bot activity following strikes on Yandex infrastructure, though the article clarifies Netanyahu was referring to anti-Israeli propaganda and hate speech online, not antisemitism.

Despite the conversation's focus on the Middle East, Zakharova defended the Russian Ministry of Justice's decisions regarding foreign agents.