[MTVN]

Vladimir Putin has cited JK Rowling as he accused the West of "trying to cancel" Russia during a televised meeting with cultural figures.

There is also a campaign against Russian composers including Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich and Rachmaninov, the Russian president added in a bizarre rant.

He appeared to be referring to the cancellation of events involving Russian music in some Western countries since his invasion of Ukraine.

"Today they are trying to cancel a whole thousand-year culture - our people," Mr Putin commented.

"They are banning Russian writers and books."

Regarding JK Rowling, he said the Harry Potter author was cancelled "just because she didn't satisfy the demands of gender rights".

He continued: "They are now trying to cancel our country. I'm talking about the progressive discrimination of everything to do with Russia."

https://news.sky.com/story/jk-rowlin...ussia-12574823