Russian Maestro Gergiev Urges World to Unite to Avoid Tragedies Like Palmyra

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — In May 2016, Gergiev, who is the artistic and general director of Russia's Mariinsky Theatre, performed in the Roman amphitheater in Palmyra, two months after the city was retaken from the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, banned in Russia and many other countries. The terrorists again took hold of the city at the end of the same year, with the city being finally liberated only in March 2017.

"Unfortunately, even after our concert in Palmyra it was destroyed further more. This is the tragic truth about our times. The huge responsibility of presidents, heads of states, of international organizations … is to stop this divide and come together. Otherwise, we will see much more frightening scenarios," Gergiev said.

The famous musician called the destruction of the ancient city "frightening."

"Two thousand years it is there and then… very developed countries, very cultured, very educated, [with] the huge technological progress in our hands, and then we allow this to happen," Gergiev said.

Palmyra's monuments are included in the UNESCO World Heritage list. The terrorist occupation has caused severe damage to Palmyra's many iconic ancient buildings, including two 2,000-year-old temples and an arch.