President Volodymyr Zelensky has “interfered” and helped Swedish singer Dr. Alban to visit Kyiv despite his earlier performance in Russian-annexed Crimea, according to Dr. Alban’s social media.
Known also as Alban Uzoma Nwapa, Dr. Alban claimed Zelensky helped him enter Ukraine on Dec. 16 on Instagram. This post, however, went viral only on Jan. 4, as the Krym Realii TV project from Radio Free Europe reported it.
The move has triggered indignation among Zelensky’s critics, since visiting Russian-occupied Crimea without Ukrainian authorities’ authorization is unlawful.
The Presidential Office did not respond to a request for comment.
Serhiy Deineko, head of the State Border Guard, said on Jan. 5 that Zelensky had not interfered in the decision to let Dr. Alban enter mainland Ukraine. Deineko also argued that the singer’s entry was lawful.
In Kyiv, Dr. Alban performed at a concert of Studio Kvartal 95, a comedy show previously run by Zelensky. The singer posted a video and a photo of himself with Zelensky.
“Meeting Ukrainian President Zelensky,” Dr. Alban said. “I was banned from entering Ukraine because of my previous show in the disputed Crimea peninsula. With the president’s intervention I was able to get into Ukraine. Very good outing in Kiev with the president in the crowd.”
The original Instagram post published by Dr. Alban on Dec. 16, 2019. The Swedish-Nigerian singer edited its text on Jan. 5, deleting the part about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky helping him to enter Ukraine after his performance in Russian-annexed Crimea in 2017.
On Jan. 5, Dr. Alban edited his post. It now reads, “Meeting Ukrainian President Zelensky. I was banned from entering Ukraine because of my previous show on the Crimea peninsula. I did not know that Ukrainians don’t like it but was happy to meet the president.”
It is not entirely clear if there has ever been a formal ban on Dr. Alban’s entry to Ukraine.
The singer performed in the resort of Yalta in Ukraine’s currently Russian-annexed Crimea in 2017. He also performed in the city of Kramatorsk in Donetsk Oblast in September 2019, meaning that he actually entered Ukraine two times after his show in Crimea.
Swedish-Nigerian singer Alban Uzoma Nwapa, better known by his stage name Dr. Alban, sings during the concert of Studio Kvartal 95 on Dec. 16, 2019 in Kyiv.
Dr. Alban, a Nigerian-born musician based in Sweden, focuses on the Eurodance, hip-hop, reggae, and dancehall styles. His most famous hit is “It’s My Life,” which was produced in 1992.
