
- Share this article on Facebook
- Share this article on Twitter
- Share this article on Email
- Show additional share options
- Share this article on Print
- Share this article on Comment
- Share this article on Whatsapp
- Share this article on Linkedin
- Share this article on Reddit
- Share this article on Pinit
- Share this article on Tumblr
MOSCOW — Serbian director Emir Kusturica, a two-time Cannes Palm d’Or winner, has voiced support for the Russian government’s stand on Ukraine.
“I believe Russia ought to protect ethnic Russians living in Ukraine and thereby save the country from a catastrophe,” Kusturitsa, who is currently touring Russia with his band No Smoking Orchestra, was quoted as saying by the Russian wire service ITAR-TASS.
STORY: Oscars: Russian Broadcaster Denies Cutting Ukraine Tribute From Jared Leto’s Speech
“Unfortunately, Ukraine is following the same path that Yugoslavia took a while ago,” he went on to say. “And that really upsets me. The same kind of catastrophe is happening there.”
Kusturica won the Cannes Film Festival’s top honor in 1985, for his film When My Father Was Away on Business, and again in 1995 — the year after Quentin Tarantino won with Pulp Fiction — for his film Underground.
According to Kusturica, he plans to tour Ukraine with his band to support the Russian-speaking population and “other brothers.” He added that one of the songs at his upcoming concert in the Russian city of Samara would be devoted to ethnic Russians living in Ukraine.
Incidentally, Kusturica is friends with Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov, known for his pro-government and conservative views.
STORY: Oscars: Ukraine Crisis Pushes Awards Coverage to Back of European Newscasts
Earlier, Mikhalkov condemned Ukrainian protesters who stood up for closer ties with the European Union.
“I have no pity for those Ukrainians who are for the European Union,” he said at the ceremony of the Russian music awards Golden Gramophone last December. “I am on the side of those who are with Russia.”
He added that closer ties with the European Union would be “death” for Ukraine and that the European Union “doesn’t need” Ukraine.
Related Stories
Related Stories
THR Newsletters
Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day