Pro-war Russian singer Grigory Leps fears traveling to Irkutsk for a concert on October 11 due to concerns over a potential plague outbreak, according to Russian media.
The musician is scheduled to perform at the Iceberg Ice Palace in the Siberian city. His representative contacted Russia's public health agency, Rospotrebnadzor, to demand accurate information about the epidemiological situation in the region.
A source at Rospotrebnadzor said Leps's assistant delivered an ultimatum asking whether an outbreak of plague or pneumonia was taking place in Irkutsk Oblast. Russian authorities previously denied that any such outbreak had occurred in the territory.
The source noted that the assistant argued Leps could not risk falling ill. The request was subsequently forwarded to agency leadership, with the staff member explaining that senior management was better equipped to respond to the inquiry.
Concerns over public health in Siberia
Leps is a prominent Russian pop and rock singer known for his vocal style and public endorsement of President Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine. Irkutsk is a major city in eastern Siberia, located near Lake Baikal. Rospotrebnadzor serves as the federal watchdog overseeing consumer rights and public health across Russia.
Security and health concerns have repeatedly disrupted the performer's schedule in recent months. Leps previously canceled several concert appearances during the summer following potential drone attack risks.
Reports of regional health warnings
The inquiry follows earlier reports by Ukrainian news agency UNIAN stating that the United States urged American citizens to leave Russia immediately. That advisory followed the mysterious death of a laboratory technician in Irkutsk, which raised fears of a local plague outbreak.
Infectious disease specialists have also evaluated the potential broader impact of the situation. An expert previously assessed the threat of pneumonic plague in Russia, analyzing whether the respiratory infection could reach Ukraine and outlining standard treatments.
