Oliver Stone: The Putin Interviews

Claim: “The expression of this free will, whose overwhelming majority had voted for independence and for joining Russia.”

Supporting: See, “Crimeans vote over 90 percent to quit Ukraine and join Russia,” Ibid.

Background Information:

On February 18, 2008, the United States formally recognized Kosovo as a sovereign and independent state. See, “US Recognizes Kosovo as Independent State,” Secretary Condoleezza Rice, US Department of State (February 18, 2008). Retrieved at: https://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/rm/2008/02/100973.htm

Background Information:

Speculation about Putin’s wealth is rampant. Oliver Stone asks Putin about claims that he is “the single richest person in the world.” Putin replies that he does not have such wealth as attributed to him. In the realm of public opinion, the question appears to remain unresolved. We provide two references to this claim.

See, “Is Vladimir Putin hiding a $200 billion fortune? (And if so, does it matter?),” Adam Taylor, Washington Post , (February 20, 2015). https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2015/02/20/is-vladimir-putin-hiding-a-200-billion-fortune-and-if-so-does-it-matter/

See, “Former Kremlin banker: Putin ‘is the richest person in the world until he leaves power,’” Elena Holodny, Business Insider (July 28, 2015). Retrieved at: http://www.businessinsider.com/former-kremlin-banker-putin-is-the-richest-person-in-the-world-until-he-leaves-power-2015-7

Background Information:

The seven bankers refer to Russian tycoons, who financed Boris Yeltsin’s campaign for re-election as president. The nickname, semibankirshchina, or rule of the seven bankers, refers to a group of seven noblemen, who ran Russia in the 17the century for a brief period. See, “Russia bows to the ‘rule of the seven bankers’,” Irish Times (August 29, 1998). Retrieved at: http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/russia-bows-to-the-rule-of-the-seven-bankers-1.187734

Background Information:

On June 7, 2016, 11.5 millions documents were leaked, detailing how Mossack Fonseca, a Panamanian law firm, effectively aided over 14,000 clients to create offshore businesses and bank accounts to avoid, dodge, or completely conceal taxes. These “papers” highlight how the world’s rich and famous secure and hide their wealth. See, https://panamapapers.icij.org/20160403-panama-papers-global-overview.html

Background Information:

Born in Moscow in 1821, Dostoyevsky changed the course of literature by deeply examining philosophy, religion, and existentialism in his works that focused on the internal struggle of the poor, working-class Russian. His notable works include Crime and Punishment , The Brothers Karamazov , and Notes from the Underground . He died in St. Petersburg in 1881. See, Fyodor, Dostoevsky . Bloom, Harold. Infobase Publishing. 2009.

Claim: “But, you know, even Trump has said the Russians hacked the election.”

Supporting: See, “Donald Trump Concedes Russia’s Interference in Election,” Julie Hirschfeld Davis, Maggie Haberman, the New York Times (January 11, 2017). Retrieved at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/11/us/politics/trumps-press-conference-highlights-russia.html

Background Information:

In discussing the statement by Donald Trump that Russia hacked the US elections, Putin replies that Trump had earlier said that anyone anywhere, including a person lying in bed with a laptop, could initiate a hacking attack. See, “Hackers Are Mad That Donald Trump Body-Shamed Them at the Presidential Debate,” Katie Reilly, Fortune (September 26, 2016). Retrieved at: http://fortune.com/2016/09/26/presidential-debate-hackers-body-shamed/

Claim: “the US spends more on defense than all the other countries in the world combined spends on their defense—more than six hundred billion US dollars.”

See, “Here’s how US defense spending stacks up against the rest of the world,” Ibid.

Claim: “But in 2012 this interference was particularly aggressive.”

Dueling Accusations: While some US officials condemned the results of the 2012 elections in Russia, the Kremlin contended that the US was financing opposition groups, as well as coordinating with demonstrators in Moscow. See, “Despite Kremlin’s Signals, US Ties Remain Strained After Russian Election,” David M. Herszenhorn, Steven Lee Myers, the New York Times (March 6, 2012). Retrieved at: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/07/world/europe/ties-with-us-remain-strained-after-russian-election.html

Background Information:

Although US Deputy Defense Secretary, William Lynn, refused to say whether the US was involved in the development of the virus, Stuxnet, that targeted Iran’s Natanz nuclear plant, it is believed that a US-Israeli operation was behind the attack. See, “US was ‘key player in cyber-attacks on Iran’s nuclear programme,’” Peter Beaumont, Nick Hopkins, The Guardian (June 1, 2012). Retrieved at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/jun/01/obama-sped-up-cyberattack-iran

Background Information:

Oliver Stone’s 2016 film, Snowden, follows Edward Snowden in the lead-up and aftermath of his decision to leak classified information to the press. See, “In ‘Snowden,” the national security whistleblower gets the Oliver Stone treatment,” Ann Hornaday, the Washington Post (September 15, 2016). Retrieved at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/in-snowden-the-national-security-whistleblower-gets-the-oliver-stone-treatment/2016/09/15/8f2ebde4-78e9-11e6-ac8e-cf8e0dd91dc7_story.html

Background Information:

Although Oliver Stone mentioned six major banks being attacked, sources note that five Russian banks underwent a Botnet attack. See, “5 major Russian banks repel massive DDoS attack” RTNews (November 10, 2016). Retrieved at: https://www.rt.com/news/366172-russian-banks-ddos-attack/

Claim: “We will attack Russia in the same manner as they attacked us in this election.”

Supporting: When asked whether the US was preparing to send a message to Russia for interfering in the US elections, Vice President Joe Biden replied: “We’re sending a message… We have the capacity to do it… He’ll know it… And under the circumstances that have the greatest impact.” See, “Biden Hints at US Response to Russia for Cyberattacks,” David E. Sanger, the New York Times (October 15, 2016). Retrieved at: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/16/us/politics/biden-hints-at-us-response-to-cyberattacks-blamed-on-russia.html

173. Background Information:

On June 24, 2016, Russia’s lower house of parliament voted 325 to 1 to adopt a package of amendments targeting terrorist activities and any perceived support of such activities. Human rights activists claim that the anti-terrorism measures will roll back personal freedoms and privacy. See, “Russia passes ‘Big Brother’ anti-terror laws,” Alec Luhn, The Guardian June 26 2016. Retrieved at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/26/russia-passes-big-brother-anti-terror-laws

Claim: “And they’ve got connections of their own in Russia. And they prepare terrorist attacks.”

Supporting: A number of factors add up to the likelihood of future terrorist attacks in Russia. See, “Attacks on Russia Will Only Increase,” Colin P. Clarke, The Atlantic (April 4, 2017). Retrieved at: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/04/russia-st-petersburg-isis-syria/521766/