Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, presents a medal to then Mariinsky Theatre's Artistic Director Valery Gergiev, during an awarding ceremony in Moscow's Kremlin, Russia, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2016. Munich's mayor says Valery Gergiev has been fired as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic because of his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin and for not rejecting the invasion of Ukraine. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, pool,file)