Emin Agalarov, a Russian pop star who allegedly helped organize the meeting of Donald Trump Jr. with a Russian attorney linked to the Kremlin at the Trump Tower during the 2016 campaign, said Monday that he had been forced to Cancel his tour of the United States and Canada "due to circumstances beyond the control of [his]."
In a video on Facebook, Agalarov claimed that he had canceled the upcoming tour "against his will". The exact circumstances surrounding the cancellation were not immediately clear. He had to play in New York on Saturday night.
Agalarov is perceived as a figure in the investigation by the special advocate Robert Mueller on Russian interference in the elections. Agalarov's lawyer told NBC News last July that his discussions with Mueller's team were "underway", but NBC News reports at the time said the singer had not been interviewed officially.
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The singer Emin Agalarov [19659007] See the gallery
Moscow, Russia – June 12, 2016: The singer Emin Agalarov performs at a concert in the Red Square in On the occasion of Russia Day. Valery Sharifulin / TASS (photo by Valery Sharifulin TASS via Getty Images)
MOSCOW, RUSSIA – NOVEMBER 09: Donald Trump, Aras Agalarov and Emin Agalarov attend the red carpet at the 2013 Miss Univers Pageant Contest on November 9, 2013 in Moscow , Russia. (Photo by Victor Boyko / Getty Images)
In this photo taken on Sunday, November 10, 2013, Crocus Group vice president, Emin Agalarov, left, Miss Univers 2013 Gabriela Isler, from Venezuela in the center, and Donald Trump , USA attend the final of the Miss Universe 2013 contest in Moscow, Russia. The emails published by Donald Trump Jr. show the publicist Rob Goldstone telling Trump that the singer Emin Agalarov and his father, the developer Aras Agalarov, had "contributed" to the support provided by the Russian government to Trump. In his email, Goldstone said that the "Russian Crown Prosecutor" had offered to provide information about the Clinton campaign to the Trump campaign at a meeting with Aras Agalarov. (Irina Bujor / Kommersant Photo via AP) RUSSIA OUT
MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA DECEMBER 24, 2018: Singer Emin Agalarov performs for the Miss Moscow 2018 beauty pageant at the City Hall of Vegas. Vyacheslav Prokofyev / TASS (photo by Vyacheslav Prokofyev TASS via Getty Images)
Moscow, Russia – November 09: Emin Agalarov, Donald Trump and Aras Agalarov attend the red carpet at the Miss Universe Universe competition 2013, November 9, 2013 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Victor Boyko / Getty Images)
MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA DECEMBER 24, 2018: Singer Emin Agalarov performs for the Miss Moscow 2018 beauty pageant at the City Hall of Vegas. Vyacheslav Prokofyev / TASS (Photo by Vyacheslav Prokofyev TASS via Getty Images)
From left to right, Russian singer Emin Agalarov and his father Aras Agalarov arrive at the Miss USA 2013 contest on Sunday, June 16, 2013 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo / Jeff Bottari)
Russian singer Emin Agalarov (C) sings in front of his father, Aras Agalarov, and Donald Trump (left), co-owner of the Miss Universe Organization, at the # A press conference after the Miss 2013 Parade at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino Las Vegas, Nevada, June 16, 2013. Trump announced that the Miss Universe 2013 contest will be held Nov. 9 at the Crocus City Hall in Moscow. REUTERS / Steve Marcus (UNITED STATES – Tags: ENTERTAINMENT ACTIVITIES) ONLY FOR EDITORIAL PURPOSES. NOT FOR SALE FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS
From left to right, Erin Brady and Donald Trump, Miss Connecticut USA, watch Russian singer Emin Agalarov speak on stage with his father Aras Agalarov at a conference release after Brady's victory at the Sunday Miss USA 2013 June 16, 2013 in Las Vegas. (AP Photo / Jeff Bottari)
MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA – DECEMBER 10, 2018: Singer Emin Agalarov (C) performs in his solo concert at Crocus City Concert Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow. Vyacheslav Prokofyev / TASS (Photo by Vyacheslav Prokofyev TASS via Getty Images)
From left to right, Donald Trump, Aras Agalarov, Miss Universe 2012, Olivia Culpo and Russian singer Emin Agalarov arrive at the Miss USA 2013 contest, Sunday June 16, 2013, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo / Jeff Bottari)
Russian property developer Aras Agalarov (left) applauds with his son, singer Emin Agalarov, at a press conference at the end of the Miss USA 2013 contest at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada June 16, 2013. Photo taken on June 16, 2013. REUTERS / Steve Marcus
MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA – DECEMBER 10, 2018: Singer Emin Agalarov (R) performs at from a concert given at the Crocus City Concert Hall Hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow Region. Vyacheslav Prokofyev / TASS (Photo by Vyacheslav Prokofyev TASS via Getty Images)
MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA – DECEMBER 10, 2018: Singer Emin Agalarov performs during his solo concert at the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Krasnogorsk, the Moscow region. Vyacheslav Prokofyev / TASS (Photo by Vyacheslav Prokofyev TASS via Getty Images)
MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA – DECEMBER 10, 2018: Singer Emin Agalarov performs at a concert at the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Krasnogorsk , in the Moscow region. Vyacheslav Prokofyev / TASS (Photo by Vyacheslav Prokofyev TASS via Getty Images)
MOSCOW REGION, RUSSIA – DECEMBER 10, 2018: Singer Emin Agalarov performs during his solo concert at the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Krasnogorsk, Moscow region Vyacheslav Prokofyev / TASS (Photo by Vyacheslav Prokofyev TASS via Getty Images)
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Agalarov's lawyer, Scott Balber, claimed Monday in a telephone interview that the cancellation was "very definitely" related to the investigation of Russia.
"This has nothing to do with a substance," Balber said, adding that his client was "happy" to talk to Mueller's team and various congressional committees on a voluntary basis. , but that the parties involved were not yet in agreement. on the "parameters" of this testimony.
"He could come and do the concert but we do not want him to be summoned to appear or detained under a major witness warrant or anything from him." other, "added Balber.
Natalia Veselnitskaya, the Russian lawyer who met Trump Jr., told NBC News in 2017 that Agalarov had played a key role in setting up the face-to-face conversation. She claimed at the time that she had never met Agalarov, the son of the Azerbaijani-Russian oligarch Aras Agalarov.
The Agalarov were in talks with a real estate contract in Moscow that would include a Trump tower, but according to a person familiar with the market, it never materialized. This agreement was separate from the agreement reached between Trump Tower and Moscow by Michael Cohen and his associate, Felix Sater. Prosecutors allege that the latter agreement was concluded until June 2016, contrary to what Michael Cohen had said in Congress. The potential agreement with the Agalarovs provokes a new scrutiny by congressional investigators.
Agalarov seemed to wink at his place in the orbit of President Donald Trump in a video clip released last June for the title "Got Me Good". In the video, Agalarov sings in English alongside Trump's doubles, adult film performers Stormy Daniels and Hillary Clinton.
The real Trump had previously appeared in another video clip of Agalarov during the Miss Universe contest in Moscow in 2013. Trump, who at the time he owned the show, pretended to dismiss the singer as he was a competitor of "The Apprentice".
A spokesman for the special council office declined to comment.
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