Valery Gergiev, the star Russian maestro and prominent supporter of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, was removed on Tuesday from his post as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic after he refused to denounce Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Dieter Reiter, the mayor of Munich, announced his decision in a news release saying termination of Gergiev’s contract was the only option available.

Dieter Reiter, said that Gergiev, who had held the post of chief conductor there since 2015, had failed to respond to a demand issued on Friday Reiter that he condemn Putin’s “brutal war of aggression” by Monday or be fired.

Gergiev’s abrupt dismissal, three years before his contract was set to expire, was the biggest setback yet for the conductor, who has been the target of widespread anger and condemnation in recent days for his long record of support for Putin and his policies.

Other arts organisations in Europe followed suit on Tuesday.

New York Times News Service