Enough of This Filth: Why ‘Kvartal’ Deserves a National Hryvnia Boycott

Source: Author’s Facebook page

More and more performers are refusing to share the stage with “Kvartal 95.” It’s a welcome sign that the cultural sphere is finally developing a sense of reputational accountability — but it’s still nowhere near enough.

Viewers need to understand that for decades they have been supporting, with their own hryvnias, a sleazy, low-grade comedy machine that used its “humor” as a political weapon — harassing and publicly dismantling pro-Ukrainian politicians, distorting reality, and manipulating audiences. “Kvartal” never mocked Yanukovych or Zelenskyy with the same venom; in those cases, their humor suddenly became gentle, even adoring.

And Kvartal has never apologized to those it smeared and destroyed on command, without reason and without shame.

Not even for their vile jokes about Yushchenko, their mockery of Andriy Parubiy’s speech impairment, or the malicious attacks on Valeria Hontareva — whose home was torched by criminals after she saved Ukraine’s banking system and prevented PrivatBank from collapsing.

“Kvartal” sneered at Yatsenyuk and Poroshenko, mocked Klitschko, and had no hesitation in dragging politicians’ families through the mud. Today, they continue to giggle at our team, spitefully marginalizing the opposition.

This is not humor. This is not satire.
It is propaganda — political character assassination performed at the pleasure of their patrons.

And now, as “Kvartal” nervously distances itself from its co-owner Mindich, they still lack the intellect, morality, or basic dignity to condemn corruption or apologize to Ukrainians — for the malice, division, humiliation, and years of poison they poured from their stage and screens.

“Kvartal should be boycotted — with our hryvnia.
Because what they produce is not funny. It is disgusting.”

As a reminder, several Ukrainian artists in Kyiv have pulled out of the “Kvartal 95” New Year’s concert scheduled for December 6–7, following the corruption scandal at “Energoatom,” in which the studio’s co-owner Timur Mindich is implicated.

Meanwhile, the Kvartal 95 studio issued an official statement, emphasizing that it does not engage in political activities and is not involved in the business dealings of its shareholders. The statement also highlighted that the team comprises hundreds of people and has been working for over 20 years, boosting the country’s morale even during the most difficult times. The studio assured that public pressure will not affect its work.

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