At the beginning of March, the ultimatum that the city of Munich had given Valery Gergiev expired.

Since he did not want to publicly distance himself from Putin's war, it was decided that he should no longer hold an artistic leadership position.

Already in relation to Gergiev, Munich took more time than other European cities.

Her ministry for science and art takes even more time in a comparable case.

According to the ministry, the director of the Bavarian State Ballet since 2017, Igor Zelensky, was summoned to answer questions about his current part-time job for Russia's National Cultural Heritage Fund.

The foundation, which is close to Putin, is building four cultural centers, one of which is in Crimea.

The order was followed.

This is since the 11th.

March the only information from the ministry.

The director of the Bavarian State Opera, Serge Dorny, also said that talks had been held with Igor Zelensky, but that there was nothing to be said and that it would be announced if there was anything to be said.

One could say that not sharing is the new sharing.

State and municipal or country-funded institutions and their exponents remain silent or allow themselves to remain silent.

What was able to arouse the most astonishment in Munich at the start of the ballet week was the explanation given by the world-famous classical choreographer Alexei Ratmansky, who has friends, family and professional roots in the Ukraine, why, despite Zelensky's silence, he now joined the Bavarian State Ballet in 2014 created ballet "Pictures at an Exhibition" (last picture: "The Gate of Kyiv") and directed the rehearsal in the last week before the premiere.

He explained to this newspaper,

At the premiere, he will transform the last projection onto the poster into the colors of Ukraine and even wave the Ukrainian flag when bowing.

He had last done so in San Francisco with overwhelming approval.

Since the entire State Opera shows their solidarity on the house's website (Zelensky is also missing from the list) and Germany is on the side of Ukraine - although the country is doing too little - he can work in Munich and doesn't have to work like in Moscow and Saint Petersburg leave or don't show up at all.

Zelensky, that's how you understand it, doesn't play a role in your own house.

Ratmansky likes coming to Munich because he works well with ballet masters and dancers.

It also gave the dancers peace of mind, as some of the Russians among them were afraid that they would have to leave after Gergiev's dismissal.

Which is not the case.

But how and when will those responsible decide on Zelensky's case?

A monstrous illustrated book that was published last year by the Cologne publishing house teNeues and celebrates the ballet star Sergej Polunin ("Sergei Polunin. Free. A Life in Images and Words") might make you think.

In it, Polunin effusively thanks his “mentor” Zelensky and shows to whom he feels an obligation, also with a photo of his tattoos: Putin on his chest, Zelensky on his upper arm.

Isn't that the border?

Polunin has retired with surgery on his Achilles tendon for 2022, so he won't face any cancellations.

Zelensky is employed by the Free State of Bavaria, and the public has the right to know whether he supports a criminal war or is wrongly emblazoned on Polunin's arm next to Putin.