The Russian Army Choir isn't simply an ensemble, but a military unit of the Russian Armed Forces; that's why the choir needs a special permit to come to Latvia, Rinkevics said.
"Calm down. It won't happen," the Foreign Minister said about the possibility of the Russian Army Choir performing in Latvia.
A couple of weeks ago, Lithuania cancelled a Russian Army Choir concert in the city of Visaginas due to an ideological message carried out by the ensemble. The concert on December 6 was supposed to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany.
The Czech Republic was another country that was paranoid about the Russian ensemble's visit, seeing the group of singers and dancers as "enemy" soldiers engaged in hybrid warfare.
Some Czechs were scared that the Russian choir would literally "annex" their country back to a Socialist state simply by singing "Kalinka" and "Katusha" songs.
The Alexandrov Ensemble is the world's largest army choir and has performed in the most prestigious venues in more than 50 countries. The ensemble's repertoire includes about 2,000 compositions, mostly comprised of Russian folk songs and Soviet-era tunes, but opera classics and even the occasional pop hit are also included.
The ensemble, comprising a male choir, an orchestra and a dance troupe, was founded in 1928. Though most performers in the current lineup are civilians, they dress in army uniforms for shows and are a staple at army-themed celebrations in Russia.
