The Killers have issued an apology after lead singer Brandon Flowers asked a Russian fan to play drums on stage during a performance in Georgia.
He prompted jeers and walk-outs from some sections of the crowd when he urged them to consider the Russian fan as their “brother.”
With its neighbour, Georgia, which declared its independence from Russia in 1991, has long had problems.
Invading Georgia in 2008, Russia still controls a portion of the former Soviet republic.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, a number of Russians moved to Georgia, which hastened tensions.
After the show, the Killers released a statement on social media in which they stated: “Good people of Georgia, it was never our aim to hurt anyone!
We’ve had a long tradition of allowing individuals to play drums, and from the stage, it looked like the audience initially approved of tonight’s audience participation participant joining us onstage.
“We acknowledge that a phrase that was intended to imply that the Killers’ audience and fans are all ‘brothers and sisters’ may have been misinterpreted.
We apologies for upsetting anyone; that was not our intention. We support you and intend to be back shortly.