The case against the much-loved music and arts space was thrown out upon appeal.
Closer is no longer under threat of being closed down.
The popular Kiev music and arts space had been in trouble with authorities since late last year, when a series of police raids allegedly netted small amounts of marijuana and amphetamines. Closer was taken to court soon afterwards, where the venue was subsequently deemed a priton—a place that houses drug trafficking and dealing. Upon appeal, however, the charges were dropped, and Closer was able to get back to business as usual.
"After the city court deemed Closer as a place for using and spreading drugs and decided to close us, we appealed it in a higher court and the decision was cancelled," Closer's Timur Basha told RA. "So we won the case. Thanks to help from the media, the higher court understood that we are not just another club."
The next few weeks at Closer are as busy as ever. This Saturday and Sunday (May 21st and 22nd) will see DJ Bone, DJ Stingray, Margaret Dygas and more touch down for the annual Strichka Festival, followed by slots from Etienne (May 27th), Fumiya Tanaka (May 28th), Audio Werner and Voigtmann for a Toi Toi Musik session (June 4th), Suciu (June 17th), Mara Trax (July 9th), Nicola Kazimir and Isherwood (July 16th), Jane Fitz (July 23rd) and Zenker Brothers, who'll be joined by DJ Masda (July 30th).
See the full schedule here.
Watch a short film from last year's Strichka Festival below.
Murcof, Alva Noto, Mike Huckaby, DJ Bone, Margaret Dygas, Nastia, Pearson Sound, Anthea, Abelle, Ranishe Niyaak, Noizar, Bambu, Vova Klk, Shakolin, Timur Basha, Alex Savage, Igor Glushko, Lobanov K., Voin Oruwu, Pavel Plastikk, Roman K, SE62, Borys