Sokurov and Putin at the Natalia 2014 State Awards Photo: Gubernatorova
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov commented on media speculation that director Alexander Sokurov could face punishment for a dispute with President Vladimir Putin.
At a meeting of Human Rights Council members on December 9, Sokurov expressed his views on crisis of federalism and the rise of nationalist sentiments in a number of Russian republics and also put forward a proposal to “release” those who do not want to live in Russia. Putin got into a dispute with the director and offered not to moderate the talk show. Later, Sokurov did not rule out in an interview with the media that he could be arrested on charges of violating territorial integrity.
“My God … let them take it as they please. This is” I listened inattentively, or maybe I asked the question unprofessionally, “RBC said.
The Presidential Press Secretary later said that Putin reacted sharply to the interview with Sokurov, because the opponent's statements were unprofessional and “the president does not tolerate this,” he added. “But the dispute is a dispute.”