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December 10, 2021 During an online meeting with members of the Human Rights Council, Russian President Vladimir Putin harshly criticized the statement by filmmaker Aleksandr Sokurov, awarded the highest artistic honor "People's Artist of the Russian Federation", who proposed to "liberate" the regions wishing to separate from Russia. Sokurov said that in the Russian regions, especially the Caucasus, they "are increasingly beginning to hate" the Russians and "want to separate" from them. “Let's see what is happening with the Russian state, with our state structure. Let go of all those who no longer want to live with us in the same state. We wish good luck to all padishahs, I don't know, to all who would like to start living their own life ",said the director.
In response, Putin called Sokurov's speech a "manifesto" and urged not to turn the country into "Muscovy" (reduce it to just the Moscow province, ed). “He said we free all those who don't want to live with us. How do you know who wants to live with us and who doesn't? Have you ever checked it out? Among other things, during the vote on the Constitution, he saw how the people voted. One can now discuss this issue as one prefers. But I assure you that the vast majority of people understand what they will have to face, "the Russian president said. In addition, Putin accused Sokurov of" wanting to repeat the Yugoslav scenario "on Russian soil.
In turn, the director warned Putin on the approach of an "Islamic revolution", which, according to Sokurov, can be prevented but not won.
Putin's spokesman later commented that the Russian president's harsh reaction was due to the "unprofessional approach to sensitive issues".
According to Sokurov, however, the Russian president "misinterpreted" his words.