The Killers apologise for offending fans in Georgia with Russian 'brother' remark

The Killers have apologised after frontman Brandon Flowers invited a Russian fan on stage during a concert in Georgia to play drums on a song.

He told the crowd to treat the Russian fan as their "brother", drawing boos and walk-outs from parts of the arena.

Georgia, which gained independence in 1991, has a long history of tension with its neighbour.

Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 and still occupies part of the former Soviet state.

Tensions have been exacerbated after a number of Russians emigrated to Georgia following Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year.

In a statement posted on social media after the concert, the Killers said: "Good people of Georgia, it was never our intention to offend anyone!

"We have a longstanding tradition of inviting people to play drums and it seemed from the stage that the initial response from the crowd indicated that they were okay with tonight's audience participation member coming onstage with us.

"We recognise that a comment, meant to suggest that all of the Killers' audience and fans are 'brothers and sisters,' could be misconstrued.

"We did not mean to upset anyone and we apologise. We stand with you and hope to return soon."

The backlash from sections of the crowd occurred after Flowers - as is now tradition at their gigs - invited a fan up on stage to play drums with them on their track Reasons Unknown, towards the end of Tuesday's concert at the Black Sea Arena, close to the city of Batumi.

"We don't know the etiquette of this land but this guy's a Russian. You OK with a Russian coming up here?" Flowers was heard asking the audience.

Fan footage recorded at the concert shows the crowd responded to his question with a mixture of boos and cheers.

The singer later addressed the issue, asking fans: "You can't recognise if someone's your brother? He's not your brother?

"We all separate on the borders of our countries? Am I not your brother, being from America?"

Georgian public opinion on the ongoing war is overwhelmingly pro-Ukrainian.

Flowers urged fans to celebrate "that we're here together", before adding that he didn't want the event to "turn ugly". "And I see you as my brothers and my sisters."

The Killers, a Las Vegas rock band known for indie anthems such as Mr Brightside, will headline Reading and Leeds Festivals later this month.

Their frontman made a surprise appearance as a guest of Sir Elton John as he played his final ever UK gig closing out Glastonbury Festival last month.

Georgia gained independence in 1991, just before the Soviet Union dissolved.

Analysis by Sandro Gvindadze, BBC Monitoring

Speaking about "brotherhood" with Russia is a huge red flag in a small South Caucasus republic. This is mainly due to the memories of the Russian-Georgian war in 2008, as Russia has occupied 20% of Georgia's territory since.

"They [The Killers] came to Georgia without even realising what's going on and whom they are going to sing for," Ramaz Samkharadze tells the BBC. He owns a Radio Station Tbilisi FM, which has removed all of The Killers' songs from the air as "a gesture of support" to anyone offended.

Resident of Tbilisi, Mariam Chargazia, who attended the gig, says she was angry at Flowers' remarks, as the band should have considered the anxiety most of Georgia's population is currently facing.

"This would have been OK in some other country, perhaps, but you are not supposed to come to Georgia saying that Georgians and Russians are brothers and sisters," she says.

The fears of new aggression, omnipresent in Georgian society since 2008, were exacerbated by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Especially after thousands of Russians fled to Georgia, escaping military draft.

The majority of Georgians perceives this influx as a threat. According to a poll conducted in February by US organisation National Democratic Institute, 69% of the population fear that it might have a negative impact on the country.

Despite increasing calls, the ruling Georgian Dream party refused to introduce a visa regime for Russian citizens. Nevertheless, Russian opposition figures, journalists and civil activists are often denied entry to Georgia.

According to various public polls, over 80% of Georgians support joining the EU. In March 2022, Georgia applied for EU membership, together with Moldova and Ukraine, but unlike them, it didn't receive the EU candidate status.

After the start of the full-scale invasion, Georgian Dream also refused to impose economic sanctions against Russia, saying this would devastate Georgia's economy. Meanwhile, its leaders made numerous controversial statements accusing Ukraine, the EU and the US of "trying to drag Georgia into the war" with Russia.

Earlier this year, Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, praised Georgian Dream for "the courage to say that it will be guided by its own interests".

Interestingly, it was the Georgian Dream who invited The Killers to Georgia. On 22 November, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili announced that he would spend 70 million GEL (around $26m / £21m) in two years "to bring international stars to the country" to boost its international appeal.

"The government is spending our money wrong. While their rating is decreasing, they try to buy themselves popularity," Ramaz says.