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Belarusian musician Max Korzh performed at Besiktas Tupras Stadium in Istanbul on June 6, playing to a full crowd for almost three and a half hours.
The concert followed several days of rising tensions in the city center, as thousands of fans from Russia and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries filled Istanbul's streets, causing traffic disruptions and complaints from residents.
Fan gatherings started as early as June 1, almost a week before the concert. Crowds gathered in tourist areas like Istiklal Avenue and the Eminonu ferry terminal, where they sang, chanted, and set off fireworks and flares.
Videos on social media showed large groups, with many people visibly intoxicated according to Russian outlet Baza, taking over sidewalks and blocking pedestrian streets.
Some of the chants included 'Istanbul is ours for two days!' and 'The movement continues!'
On the day of the concert, an unsanctioned march began around 2:00 p.m. Thousands of Russian-speaking fans walked along the Bosphorus shoreline from Galataport to Besiktas Stadium.
Turkish police sent extra officers to these areas, but mainly redirected fans instead of breaking up the crowds. Authorities did not release any official statements about mass detentions or serious incidents.
One reported physical altercation received wider attention. Fan accounts shared by several outlets say a local resident burned a fan's face with a flare during a confrontation and then threatened the group with a broken bottle. This incident has not been independently confirmed.
Istanbul residents shared their frustration on Turkish social media, with some asking visitors to go home. These complaints came after a busy period for the city.
Just a week earlier, American rapper Kanye West performed at Ataturk Olympic Stadium, drawing about 118,000 spectators according to Reuters. Unlike the Korzh concert, that event did not lead to reports of street disruptions before the show.
Inside the stadium, Korzh played for about three and a half hours to a sold-out crowd of up to 50,000 people. He performed songs from his entire catalog, including tracks released since 2012, such as 'Sozzeny', 'Stilevo', 'Optimist', and 'Wake Up'.
Fans sang and danced throughout the show. The audience included people from Russia and several other countries, and the stadium was reportedly full well before the concert began.
Korzh is a Belarusian singer and songwriter who mixes rap, hip-hop, pop, and rock. Since his breakthrough with 'The Sky Will Help Us', he has released six studio albums, numerous singles, and over 30 music videos, earning millions of streams across platforms.
His popular songs include 'Live High', 'Maly Povzrosrel' (The Boy Has Grown), 'Control', 'Raznesem' (Crash the Stadium), and 'Teplo' (Warm).
His major concerts in Europe have often led to increased security. Before a show in Bucharest at Arena Nationala, Romanian authorities sent police, gendarmerie, and special services, with local media comparing the scale to preparations for the 2008 NATO summit.
A planned concert in Almaty was canceled three days before the date, and some ticket holders later said they had trouble getting refunds.
Korzh released a song condemning the war in Ukraine when Russia began its full-scale invasion. However, his public position on the conflict has since been called unclear, as his statements have mostly been general calls to end the war instead of direct criticism of Russia's actions.
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