An Azerbaijani-Russian pop star linked to the infamous Trump Tower meeting between aides to Donald Trump and a Kremlin-linked lawyer has cancelled a US tour, due to fears he could be subpoenaed and questioned over Russian election interference.
Emin Agalarov, who with his billionaire father Aras Agalarov is a longtime Trump family friend, had been due to play three concerts in the US this month.
But he cancelled the tour on Monday, saying he had “been put in this position against my will”. His lawyer later said the move was linked to the Russia investigation.
“It’s the only choice we had,” Scott Balber told CNN, adding that he had failed to reach a deal with special counsel Robert Mueller’s office and Congress over the terms of any interview.
“I’ve been endeavoring to engage with the special counsel’s office as well as various congressional committees, and despite our best effort we haven’t been able to reach an agreement on the terms,” Balber said.
Agalarov announced the cancellation in an Instagram post.
“My dear friends,” he said. “I really hate to be recording this message right now, but I’m left without a choice. Due to circumstances beyond my control, I am forced to postpone my scheduled US and Canadian tour. Basically I have been put in this position against my will.”
Agalarov allegedly helped organize the June 2016 meeting between Donald Trump Jr, Paul Manafort, Jared Kushner and several Russians, under the premise of offering damaging information on Hillary Clinton.
The meeting, which the former Trump aide Steve Bannon labelled “treasonous”, “unpatriotic” and “bad shit”, is one focus of the inquiry led by Mueller.
“I bring my apologies to everyone who was looking forward to seeing us during those shows,” Agalarov said.
Agalarov is popular in Russia but his music is less well-known in the US. Tickets for his New York City show – priced between $75 and $110 – were still available late last week.
On Tuesday, Agalarov’s website listed the concerts as “postponed”. It was not clear if the shows will be rescheduled.
