Community anger over Oliver Stone's Putin interview

Experts respond to Oliver Stone's series of interviews with Vladimir Putin, saying the public is eager for an impartial interview with the Russian president.

Oliver Stone - Putin

Controversy magnet Oliver Stone interviews Russian President Vladimir Putin Source: SBS

The Ukrainian community and some Russian Australians have expressed anger over an interview with Vladimir Putin broadcast on SBS.

The four hour-long interviews by filmmaker Oliver Stone offer a window into the world according to the Russian president, but some of the so-called facts are being challenged. 

Monash University School of Business Professor Gennadi Kazakevitch, who left Russia 26 years ago, says the documentary is nothing more than a long homage to the Kremlin chief.

"I would like to see if somebody had that once in a lifetime opportunity to interview Putin for that many continuous days of interviewing, they would bring the truth. They did not," Professor Kazakevitch told SBS World News.



"In fact, all the issues Mr President touched were cliches from the Russian TV 'Perviy Kanal', well known as an official propaganda resource that is routinely caught with myths, information distortions or simply lies."

The Head of Ukraine's National Institute of Remembrance, Volodymyr Vjatrovych, is visiting Australia and says he was surprised to see The Putin Interviews broadcast here.

"I believe that this is not just another version of events that are happening in Ukraine. We believe this is an element of propaganda by Putin against Ukraine.

He says If Mr Putin had his way during the 2014 Maidan Uprising, also known as the Revolution of Dignity, Europe would look very different today.

"I am convinced that the Maidan Uprising interrupted Putin's long term plans to bring Ukraine under Russian control.

"Then the little green men (soldiers) would not have been in Crimea and would have been used in the Baltic States and perhaps Poland."

Mr Vjatrovych is actively documenting Ukraine's recent history and is a passionate advocate for the 2014 Maidan Uprising. But he has been accused of “white washing” Ukraine's turbulent rebirth.

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By Gary Cox


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