A Russian Orthodox choir has distanced itself from a group of men who wore "disgusting" pro-Russia symbols to attend a government-sponsored performance in Sydney.
Several men wearing shirts with the letter Z — a symbol representing support for Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine — gathered at the front of Sydney Town Hall following a performance of the Russian Orthodox Male Choir on Friday night.
The symbol is not banned in Australia.
In a video by self-described "protest livestreamer" known on social media as Chriscoveries, the men are filmed walking down the aisles toward the stage, and standing in a line to face the audience.
One man was also photographed shaking hands with Russian Consul General Igor Arzhaev.
Asked by Chriscoveries in the video why they were there, one man said it was to "support Russia".
As the group made its way down the aisle, an audience member is heard saying, "I don't approve, I totally object".
State government agency Multicultural NSW and the City of Sydney sponsored the event and said the pro-Russian display was not part of the performance.
In a statement to the ABC, the Russian Orthodox Male Choir of Australia said it was not associated with the men.
"The choir condemns this group who sought to sow the seeds of division in an attempt to taint the image of this concert," the statement read.
"The Russian Orthodox Male Choir of Australia is apolitical, and promotes peace, harmony and inclusion.
"We intend to work with partners at future events to ensure similar incidents do not occur."
'Disgusting public display'
Photos and video of the event have been shared in a social media group run by pro-Putin YouTuber Simeon Boikov, known as "Aussie Cossack".
Ukraine's Ambassador to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko has condemned the group's attendance as a "disgusting public display".
"Z stands for the Russian aggression in Ukraine, rape and murder," he said in a tweet.
In January Mr Myroshnychenko called for tennis star Novak Djokovic's father to be banned from Australia when he was seen posing with a man wearing the "Z" symbol, following Djokovic's quarterfinal win over Russian Andrey Rublev.
Russian and Belarusian flags were banned from the tournament after a Russian flag was waved during the opening round.
A City of Sydney spokeswoman said Friday night's Sydney Town Hall event was described to council as a performance by Greek, Serbian and Antiochian community choirs in celebration of Orthodox Easter.
Event organisers applied for a grant for free venue hire, which was approved.
"The City of Sydney does not tolerate displays of hate or discrimination anywhere in our city, and we are disappointed that this event, designed to celebrate our diverse communities, was hijacked by a political group," the spokeswoman said.
"We are reviewing what happened and the impact of this event on future bookings with this and other organisations."
Australian anti-Kremlin organisation, Svoboda Alliance, said it had written to the Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, expressing "deep concern" about the appearance of Russian aggression symbols at the concert.
It has previously lobbied for the Russian "Z" symbol to be banned, alongside the Nazi swastika.
Joseph La Posta, the chief executive of Multicultural NSW, said he had been assured the Russian Orthodox Male choir had no idea the group was coming.
"I condemn any kind of violence, glorification of violence or symbols of violence," he said.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore has apologised to the Ukrainian community.
"We are extremely disappointed, even angry, that this event, designed to celebrate our diverse communities, was hijacked by a political group that promoted Russia's bloody invasion of Ukraine," she said in an Instagram post.
"I am sorry that the weekend's events caused the Ukrainian community additional concern during this trying time."
