KIEV, July 15 /TASS/. Ukraine’s Culture Ministry has asked the country’s Interior Ministry and Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) to ban a concert of Serbian film director and musician Emir Kusturica in Kiev to avert possible mass riots.

"To avert the risks of mass violations of public order, protest actions and disruption of events to commemorate the 1,000 anniversary of the death of Great Prince Vladimir of Kiev on July 28, it would be expedient for Emir Kusturica to refrain from giving a concert in Kiev on that day," the Culture Ministry’s press service said on Wednesday.

The ministry said that it was impossible for Kusturica to perform in Kiev on July 28 because of his repeated public support for the Russian policy in Ukraine and Crimea.

Emir Kusturica is a Yugoslav and Serbian film director whose films have won awards at major European film festivals. He is the holder of two Golden Palms in Cannes. Kusturica is also the heart and soul of The No Smoking Orchestra.