Rapper Ye, previously known as Kanye West, is set to perform two concerts in St Petersburg, Russia, this October. These shows will make him the most significant Western artist to play in the country since Russia's invasion of Ukraine four years ago.
Tickets for the two shows at the 70,000-capacity Gazprom Arena sold out within hours of the announcement on Monday. Prices for tickets ranged from 9,000 roubles (£78) to 160,000 roubles (£1,394).
The concerts come as West attempts to improve his public image following previous antisemitic and pro-Nazi remarks. He issued an apology in January, attributing his statements to a brain injury and bipolar disorder.
A planned major European tour this summer encountered difficulties, with several concerts cancelled due to controversy surrounding the star's views. In the UK, the Wireless Festival was called off after West was denied entry to the country, with the Home Office citing that his presence would not be "conducive to the public good".
While concerts in France, Poland, Italy, and the Czech Republic were also cancelled, dates in Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Albania proceeded. Western acts have been largely absent from Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, with many record labels suspending activities in the country.