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Dear colleagues,

As members of the global circus community, we are united by a shared passion for art, creativity, and human connection. These values stand in stark contrast to the violence, destruction, and suffering caused by the ongoing war in Ukraine. It is with this in mind that we feel compelled to address a critical issue: the continued invitation of Russian circus representatives who openly support the war in Ukraine to jury panels and international collaborations.

A recent example highlights the urgency of this matter. At the Salieri Circus Award in Italy, Ukrainian performer Anna Petrenko was disqualified after publicly protesting the inclusion of jury member Maxim Nikulin, a known supporter of the Russian military. Nikulin, who leads the Moscow Circus, is an advocate of Putin’s regime and has provided direct support to the Russian army. Upon learning of his participation, Anna took to the stage with a Ukrainian flag and leaflets reading „Nikulin supports the invasion of Ukraine.”

Instead of removing Nikulin from the jury, the Salieri Circus Award disqualified Anna, claiming she had violated competition regulations and engaged in propaganda. This response not only failed to address the core issue of including war supporters in positions of influence but also punished a brave artist for standing up against oppression and violence.

We believe that those, who endorse or fail to condemn acts of aggression and human rights violations, cannot be considered neutral participants in our field. Art, and especially circus, thrives on the values of openness, trust, and collaboration — values that are fundamentally incompatible with supporting war. By offering platforms to individuals who stand in solidarity with war and oppression, we risk legitimizing and enabling those very forces.

We, therefore, urge festival organizers, circus schools, and artistic collectives to take a clear stance against including Russian circus representatives who support or remain silent on their government’s actions in Ukraine. To continue to collaborate with these individuals is to ignore the suffering of millions and dismiss the voices of Ukrainian artists who have been displaced, traumatized, and silenced by the war.

This is not a matter of nationality or origin but of moral responsibility. Many brave Russian artists oppose the war, and they deserve our full support. But those who justify or fail to challenge this aggression must be held accountable.

We call on the international circus community to act with integrity, align our practices with our principles, and stand firmly against war and those who support it. Let us show the world that the circus community stands for peace, justice, and the defence of human dignity.

Fundacja Sztukmistrze (Sztukmistrze Foundation)