Former Dire Straits lead guitarist takes decision on Moscow and St Petersburg gigs following crackdown by the Kremlin

Mark Knopfler has cancelled two concerts in Russia owing to what he called a crackdown on human rights groups.

Russian prosecutors and tax officials searched the offices of Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Memorial, Russia's oldest rights group, and other such organisations last month in what Kremlin critics said were raids aimed at stifling criticism of President Vladimir Putin.

"Given the crackdown by Russian authorities on groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, I have regretfully decided to cancel my upcoming concerts in Moscow and St Petersburg in June," the former Dire Straits singer-guitarist wrote on his website.

Putin has signed laws to tighten controls on non-governmental organisations since he returned to the presidency in March last year, requiring those with foreign funding to register as "foreign agents", a term that echoes Cold War-era hostilities. He dismissed accusations of political pressure on the rights groups by saying the checks were "routine".

Knopfler said he hoped the situation would improve. "I have always loved playing in Russia and have great affection for the country and the people," he wrote. "I hope the current climate will change soon."

The musician, along with British actor Stephen Fry and US pop singer Madonna, criticised Russia after a Moscow court handed two-year sentences to three members of the band Pussy Riot for their protest performance in a Moscow cathedral.

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