Iosif Kobzon
Photo: AP
EU sanctions Jewish 'Russian Sinatra'
New additions to travel blacklist include famous crooner Iosif Kobzon for his visits to 'so-called Donetsk People's Republic.'
The European Union published a new list of 19 people and nine organizations hit by asset freezes and travel bans was dominated by Ukrainian separatists but also targeted popular Jewish singer Iosif Kobzon – known as Russia’s Frank Sinatra – and two Russian deputy defense ministers.
Kobzon, a 77-year-old member of the Russian Duma, was blacklisted by the EU for “visiting the so-called Donetsk People's Republic” and over his appointment as an Honorary Consul of the region.
The EU document also charged the popular Russian Jew with making “statements supporting separatists” during a visit to Donetsk.
Putin and Kobzon (Photo: AFP)
The acclaimed Russian singer was born to Jewish parents, who lived in a mining town in the Donbass region of Ukraine, European news site EurActiv reported.
He won many regional singing contests as a youth and reached the national finals twice, even appearing in concerts dedicated to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.
Lieberman with Kobzon (Photo: AP)
The Jewish crooner reached a career-high in 1984 when he was honored with the USSR State Prize. But Kozbon's reach extended beyond the borders of the Soviet empire, and the Soviet star shared a stage with famed performers like Julio Iglesias.
In the late 1980s, the singer turned to politics, embarking on a long, successful career in the Russian parliament.
'Russian Sinatra' in Ukraine (Photo: AP)
The Russian Sinatra was even honored in 2003 with a monument near his birthplace in Donetsk, EurActiv noted, and in 2007 his name was entered into the Russian Guinness Book of Records as the most decorated artist in Russian history.
The Russian Foreign Ministry responded harshly to the new sanctions. "One thing is clear – the decision, which will be followed by an adequate response, runs contrary to common sense and will not help efforts to find a solution to the inter-Ukrainian conflict.
Reuters contributed to this report.
