A concert by US shock rocker Marilyn Manson has been cancelled in a major Russian city over fears his performance would insult Orthodox believers and promote sadomasochism.
"There will be no Marilyn Manson concert in Novosibirsk," concert organisers said, referring to Russia's third largest city and the administrative centre of Siberia.
"Authorities of all levels have denied us permission to hold the concert on June 29," the firm, Sibirskie Gastroli, said in a statement posted on Russia's social network VKontakte on Thursday afternoon.
"We've fought until the end but the situation has proved stronger than us, unfortunately."
The organisers promised a full refund to all ticket holders.
Manson, 45, has frequently been the subject of protests from religious groups, including in his native US.
His 1996 album Antichrist Superstar sold seven million copies worldwide.
Hundreds of religious activists had protested against Manson's plans to perform in the city, accusing the US enfant terrible of insulting Russian Orthodox believers.
One such activist hailed the cancellation of the concert on Friday, stressing the importance of President Vladimir Putin's efforts to protect morals.
"Manson's live performances look like an amusement park with a sadomasochistic slant," said the activist, Yury Zadoya.
"Sadomasochism is a mental disorder. What does Novosibirsk need this show for?" he said on popular radio Echo of Moscow.
The organisers said authorities in Novosibirsk, home to more than 1.5 million people, did not want Manson's concert to coincide with an annual local holiday in the city on Friday and suggested that Manson perform on Saturday instead.
But the organisers said the alternative date did not suit the rocker.
