Ukraine sharply criticized the online participation of American director Woody Allen in the Moscow International Film Festival, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
"Woody Allen's participation in the Moscow International Film Week is a disgrace and an insult to the sacrifice of Ukrainian actors and directors who were killed or injured by Russian war criminals in the ongoing war against Ukraine“, the foreign ministry in Kiev wrote on social networks.
"Allen chose to turn a blind eye to the atrocities that Russia has been committing in Ukraine every day for 11 years“, the statement said, referring to Moscow's annexation of Crimea and the destabilization of eastern Ukraine in 2014 d.
Culture should not be used to cover up crimes or as a tool for propaganda, the ministry added.
Allen was invited to speak at the 47th edition of the festival on Sunday.
The event was moderated by pro-Kremlin director and actor Fyodor Bondarchuk, who is subject to Western sanctions for his support for the war in Ukraine, DPA reported.
During the interview, Allen expressed his admiration for Bondarchuk's father, director Sergei Bondarchuk.
"I have always liked Russian cinema," Allen said.
The 89-year-old director avoided the question of whether he would like to make a film in Russia and refrained from political comments, DPA reported.