“Do you want to turn us into Muscovy?”: Putin responded to criticism of Sokurov because of the Caucasus

Film director Alexander Sokurov and President Vladimir Putin have entered into a tough debate over the fate of Russia’s southern republics. The controversy took place at a meeting of the Council for the Development of Civil Society and Human Rights.

Sokurov said that what is happening in the North Caucasus is a big “political, cultural, emotional, economic problem” and the region is becoming mono-national.

“All power is in the hands of the indigenous people. There is little or no development. Why? Because, in my opinion, there is no free development of young people. The Constitution has too many politics. But the Constitution asserts that the basis of republican construction is reliance on the diversity of cultures, on the cultural and national structure. This is a very important position that we have been holding on to for many years. And it is really important, ”Sokurov said.

He recalled the Chechen-Ingush conflict over a territorial dispute between regions. As a result, the Ingush people’s gathering resulted in arrests of the most active citizens, the director added.

Sokurov offered to release those who do not want to live with the Russians. In response, Putin said that the country had already tested the wishes of the local population, including during the vote on amendments to the Constitution.

“I assure you that the overwhelming majority understand what they will face if they act differently. And the Chechen people, by the way, know this better than anyone else in the Caucasus. Do you want a repetition of Yugoslavia on our territory? ” – Putin asked, adding that there are currently about 2 thousand territorial claims in Russia and that it is not worth waking up dashingly.

According to the president, dissolving “people with similar views is a dangerous thing” that can end badly.

“Is the Russian people interested in the disintegration and disintegration of the state? Is it going to be Russia, which was created as a multinational and multi-confessional country? Do you want to turn us into Muscovy? ” – summed up the head of state.

Earlier, Putin criticized Sokurov for saying that Belarus and other countries are on allowance from Russia.