Killer american government. Hollywood star Steven Sigal about who is behind the events in Ukraine
"Russian newspaper"? Minute, now for you will descend "...
Steven Seagal, a Hollywood star, is now in Romania, where he is shooting another film with his participation. The actor rents a multi-room suite in the best hotel in Bucharest. He is not alone for a minute - assistants, guards, drivers, and secretaries are running around here and there. Wife again - charming Ellie with her five-year-old son is trying to be around all the time.
- Come in, sit down. Always glad to see Russian journalists.
Actors have always played a significant role in American politics - it’s enough to remember Ronald Reagan or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Stephen Seagal is no less popular and authoritative in the world today. In Bucharest, he is the third week, filmed in the action movie Absolyushen - about a secret agent, a "killer of the American government," who was sent to Eastern Europe to destroy the "bad guy" - a human trafficker. Filming takes place every day from morning to evening, but after learning that it will be a question of the situation with Ukraine, Stephen found time to answer questions.
- Mr. Seagal, a referendum was recently held in the Crimea, the outcome of which is ambiguous in the world ...
- To begin with, I would like to return to what preceded this referendum. Yes, Yanukovych was accused of being corrupt, and it probably was true. But in general, many leaders in the world are corrupt, it is difficult to find someone who would not be involved in something. Yanukovych was accused of leading a pro-Russian policy, but what could he do if about 20 percent of the population of Ukraine are ethnic Russians who sympathize with Russia? And then the European Union suddenly appeared, which spared no effort, money and attention to the needs of the opposition, more and more involved in internal Ukrainian problems. Yes, there are quite a few people in Ukraine who sympathize with Europe, especially in the west of the country, so a very difficult situation has arisen. It seems to me an important fact that should not be forgotten: Margaret Thatcher, who was one of the most powerful and influential leaders of Great Britain when the EU decided to penetrate her country, tried to resist this. After some time, she was forced to leave the political arena. Because the EU should not be underestimated.
As for the referendum in the Crimea. I am not a lawyer or a lawyer, because it is difficult for me to evaluate this vote from the point of view of formal procedures, how competently everything was done there, besides, I don’t know thoroughly Russian and Ukrainian legislation. But from a human point of view, whatever the propaganda - pro-Russian or pro-Ukrainian, and it has always been and will be - but 96 percent who voted for the Crimea joining Russia with a huge turnout - that means something. No propaganda in such a short period of time will force the people to make a decision in one direction or another. Democracy is the will of the people, and they want to live in Russia. In my opinion, this is important.
Much more incorrect was how Nikita Khrushchev acted in his time when, without asking neither the people of Ukraine nor the people of Crimea, he took and simply gave it to Ukraine. And there was no referendum, no polls, nothing. So if to compare from this point of view, now everything has happened much more correctly. People were asked - they answered.
Also, President Yanukovych was overthrown much more incorrectly. Whatever bad he was, he was elected by legitimate means, and he represented the interests of the entire Ukrainian people, millions of people voted for him, and he was overthrown by an incomprehensible group of aggressively-minded nationalists, who represented only a small part of the population of Ukraine. Who are these thugs throwing buildings with Molotov cocktails, where did they come from? This is much more illegitimate than what happened in the Crimea.
- Have you ever been to Crimea, in Ukraine?
- Not once.
- And what were your impressions?
- I think Crimea is a real diamond, both tourist and natural. In Ukraine, I also liked it, there are kind, sympathetic people. But today I don’t understand Putin’s accusations that he intervened. He has repeatedly stated that the Russian army will not invade the territory of southeastern Ukraine, but his desire to protect the Russian-speaking population of Crimea, its assets, the Russian military base of the Black Sea fleet in Sevastopol from the lawlessness that is happening now, in my opinion, is quite justified.
-But the Western media think differently.
- The role of the media today is really great, but not every one of them is interested in people knowing the truth. The lighting of what is happening is disgusting and terrible. Politics around the globe today is a global game, and everyone has their own interests in this game. Therefore, there is nothing surprising here - each country pursues its own goals, and the media is just a tool. Remember how the United States invaded Panama and overthrew, and then arrested the president there. Then all the media claimed that they were right. It seems, unlikely, not for me to judge, but each country pursues its own goals and acts by all available means. Often, not all lies on the surface, the roots are hidden deep and not visible to the inhabitants.
- As far as I know, you are close enough with President Putin, for which the United States periodically criticizes. Has your attitude to him changed after the Ukrainian events?
“If I answer diplomatically, I’ll say that I don’t know him too well.” But I would like to think that I know him well. And enough to claim that he is one of the greatest living world leaders.
I consider him my friend and I would like to consider him my brother. I think he is a very decent person, a man of his word, and for me it is extremely important that, unlike most world leaders, he thinks first of all not about himself, not about his image, but about his country, its population. He is strong in martial arts, knows great strategy and tactics, and it is no coincidence that Russia plays an increasing role in the global political game, in the system of checks and balances. And the way she positions herself today is very worthy.
- Putin has a black belt in judo, you have 7 dan in aikido. Does this not explain the similarity of your positions on major issues?
- It is unlikely that we look at everything the same way, this is not so. When I first came to his house, I saw a statue of the judo founder Kano Jigoro in full growth. I was amazed, I wanted to get to know this man better. Yes, Putin studied Eastern philosophy, but he also learned from the experiences of the great rulers and tactics of the Middle Ages. He is a smart person and studies outstanding people, historical personality. It seems to me, in many respects this explains the progress in work on himself that he has achieved.
- Somewhat unexpectedly to hear it from a US citizen. How do you rate Mr. Obama in this case?
- I am an American and I love my country very much. But there are presidents with whom I sympathize and who have been supported, for example, by Reagan or Kennedy, and there are those whom I’m not very good at. It’s no secret that I’m not impressed by Republican views and policies of President Obama. In many ways, this is not even his fault, but the people who belong to his closest circle, whose views on world politics are diametrically opposed to those of Russia. In my opinion, the situation when the United States and Russia are on opposite sides of the barricades is not normal. And I see my task in helping to normalize relations in every way. All of this will only benefit.
As for the situation in Ukraine, it seems to me the idiotic policy of the US presidential administration, which is trying to push the parties to bloodshed. Yes, recently a Ukrainian soldier died in the Crimea (and with him, by the way, a fighter of self-defense), but no one really knows how this happened, there are no details, and an order to take from Kiev is heard weapon and shoot the Russians. And the US administration supports this madness. Can normal people say that? After all, the Russian army is hundreds of times stronger than the Ukrainian one, and if a big military conflict begins, the Ukrainians will be the first to suffer. Those who make such statements will never take up arms and will not go to the front line, they will hide from behind and watch the Ukrainian guys die. I repeat: these are absolutely idiotic statements, and the position of the US administration, which indulges them, to put it mildly, is puzzling.
Here Seagal suddenly interrupts the interview.
- Sorry, I have to go on a shoot. Go? Not far from here.
We sit in two cars - he is on a black Mercedes, we are on the back of a minibus. The film is shot in an old gloomy mansion a la Dracula in the very center of Bucharest. On Mendeleev Street, by the way. We are waiting for another episode to be filmed. The crowd of filmmakers, onlookers.
Seagal with a gun climbs the stairs to save the girl in a frank dress. "Motor!". And suddenly a deafening shot, many silenced. The first, second doubles. Shot.
- Where did we leave off? - the main character returns.
- I'm all about Ukraine. In your opinion, to what extent do citizens of the United States share the position of President Obama towards Russia?
- This is a very difficult question. The fact is that Americans today are little aware of the situation in Ukraine. Their opinion is based on what they see on TV, and above all on the main American channel CNN, which is a mirror image of what the Obama administration wants to show the people. I see how Putin is constantly criticized on our TV, often using speculation and manipulation. There is an old saying: if you often tell lies, it will become true. Alas, many political regimes have learned to perfectly control the media. One of my friends calls me in horror the other day: "Stephen, what happened? Why does your friend Putin behave this way, has he gone crazy ?!" I have to explain that everything is wrong and you can not believe what we see on TV. This is just cynical propaganda.
In American the news do not stop repeating: "In Crimea, everything is exactly the same as it was when Russia attacked Georgia." But maybe finally tell people the truth? Didn't the Georgians invade South Ossetia by shooting the Russian peacekeepers? And only after that did Russia take retaliatory measures. Isn't it time for journalists to take a closer look at the subjects they talk about and just stop repeating what they are asked to say?
- Recently, sanctions were taken against a number of Russian officials, politicians and businessmen. How do you think this measure is adequate and can it contribute to resolving the conflict?
- I consider sanctions pointless. But the main thing is that one cannot agree with the role of the world policeman that America is increasingly taking on. Why in Washington do they consider themselves entitled to decide who to punish at the other end of the Earth, and who does not? It seems to me that Vladimir Putin has the full right to defend his people in Ukraine, who decided and voted for reunification, especially the Duma and the Federation Council supported him almost unanimously in this. What are the sanctions? If America were in place of Russia, it would behave the same way, and maybe even tougher.
- So who, in your opinion, benefits the continuation of the cold war?
“First of all, the CIA is interested in escalating the conflict, some people on Capitol Hill and from the circle of President Obama. And President Putin is clearly not interested in this. In general, I believe that the Cold War was invented to provide profit to some people. And in general, note that all this confusion in Ukraine began on the eve of the Olympics - that also says a lot.
- Many in the United States still represent Russia as a country where bears always wander through the streets. You once drove from Moscow to Vladivostok, what did you see?
- I first visited Russia at the beginning of 90's. People had nothing to eat, poverty everywhere, industry collapsed, ruin everywhere - horror. Everything began to change in the presidency of Vladimir Putin: the birth rate is growing, mortality is declining, there is no unemployment, and new industries are being created. Russia over the past decade has changed before our eyes! Yes, I drove it from west to east and saw where there was still much to do, and where much had already been done. And I want to say that your president is an incredibly strong man, he raised the country. And each time it is more pleasant for me to come to Russia.
- In this case, is there no desire to take Russian citizenship after Gerard Depardieu?
- In America, there is no prohibition to have citizenship of other countries. But I in no way intend to renounce US citizenship because I love my country and believe in it. Although I have nothing against Russian citizenship. Maybe someday it will happen.
- American boxer Lennox Lewis in his blog recently apologized to the Ukrainian people for having so strongly discouraged his rival Vitali Klitschko. Perhaps this is black humor, but seriously - how do you assess the potential of the current Ukrainian politicians?
- I don’t see a concrete person who could lead Ukraine. But whoever he is, he must first of all be chosen democratically, by civilized voting, but by no means a group of nationalists. The elections must pass, and only the one who gets the most votes has the right to speak on behalf of the whole nation. And we must not forget that a significant part of the inhabitants of Ukraine are Russians, which means that their opinion must also be taken into account.
“So if there is no leader in Ukraine right now, maybe you don’t run for governor of Arizona, but to advance in Kiev?” In the Baltic countries, the citizens of the United States led, and there was satisfaction. In any case, they themselves and the Americans.
- I am not inclined to tie my hands and fully take sides. It is much more important for me not to become a leader of a certain state, but to speak as a diplomat, a peacemaker, to set the parties at the negotiating table, to help build bridges of friendship and mutual understanding. Ukraine has already experienced a lot, and now for everyone the most important thing is to calm down and translate everything into a peaceful course. I hope, by common efforts we will succeed.
From the file "RG"
Steven Seagal - Hollywood actor, director and producer. Born in 1952, in Michigan. Father was Russian, grandmother and grandfather were from Vladivostok. He became famous as a militant actor, whose name for fans of the genre is as cult as the names of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Sylvester Stallone and Chuck Norris. He has starred in a variety of films, including "Under Siege" (1992), "In Deadly Peril" (1994), "Ordered to Destroy" (1996) and "Fire from the Underworld" (1997). 20 worked for the police for the years, as well as the deputy sheriff of New Orleans and an assistant to the sheriff of Texas. He is fond of blues, has recorded a number of albums, including with many outstanding musicians.
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