Emir Kusturica and His Political Moves: From Seeking Russian Citizenship to Controversial Statements on Ukraine
Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica, renowned worldwide for his cinematic work, has made significant political and personal decisions aligned with Russia, sparking widespread discussion across cultural and political spheres.
According to Russian media reports, he intends to apply for Russian citizenship soon, after completing a new film based on a Russian literary work.
Specifically, he plans to adapt the novel «Laurus» by the acclaimed Russian author Evgeny Vodolazkin.
Kusturica explains his decision by stating that he wants to finish filming based on Russian literature, and subsequently obtain Russian citizenship to work more comfortably within the country.
He emphasizes that his intentions are primarily artistic.
Notably, in 2017, he visited Crimea, which is under Russian occupation, openly expressing his support for Russia’s annexation of the peninsula.Furthermore, in 2022, he accepted an offer from Russia’s defense minister to become the chief director of the Central Academic Theatre of the Russian Army.
In April 2024, Kusturica met with President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin.
After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kusturica directed a documentary film titled «People of Christ — Our Time», which criticizes Ukrainian authorities and fabricates facts regarding the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, supposedly depicting their destruction by Ukrainian authorities.
These steps have caused outrage among Ukrainian citizens and are widely condemned as acts demonstrating favoritism towards pro-Russian policies and undermining Ukrainian sovereignty.