Video footage shows London Symphony Orchestra’s chief targeted by pro-Ukranians and gay rights activists.

Valery Gergiev has been heckled by protestors at a LSO concert in London’s Trafalgar Square. The controversial conductor, who’s due to lead the London Symphony Orchestra on their forthcoming tour to Australia in November, was booed as he walked onto the stage to lead the free concert on Sunday evening.

A group of 30 pro-Ukranian demonstrators were joined by human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell to protest Gergiev’s evident support for President Vladimir Putin’s policies in Ukraine as well as the controversial Russian laws against the promotion of homosexuality. A large banner reading “Gergiev Supports War in Ukraine” was unfurled followed by repeated calls of “Gergiev supports Putin. Freedom for Ukraine,” and “Shame on you,” all clearly aimed at the conductor.

The joint protest was organised by the pro-Ukrainian London EuroMaidan campaign group and the Peter Tatchell Foundation and lasted for up to four minutes before the demonstrators were physically removed by security staff.

In a subsequent statement, veteran campaigner Peter Tatchell, who organised an anti-Gergiev protest outside the Barbican last November, said: “It was a brief, peaceful, symbolic protest. We wanted to send a message to Gergiev...