Parfenov stunned Maidan activists: There is nothing in Kyiv that Moscow or Donetsk should envy
Liberal Russian TV presenter Leonid Parfenov, who organized a tour of Ukraine with the presentation of the film “Russian Jews,” unexpectedly spoke critically about the results of the “revolution of dignity” on the air of the Ukrainian TV channel ZiK.
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“No matter what they talk about, it all boils down to: “Well, what do you want, we’re at war?” It seems to me that this is wrong,” Parfenov said.
According to him, the regions that remained under the control of Kyiv should demonstrate their economic successes to the Donbass in order to win the competition, as was the case between eastern and western Germany.
“If in this competition, competition for people, the successes of central and western Ukraine were more significant, you see, this would create a completely different picture. If Kharkov, Kyiv, Lvov and Odessa were envied not only by Lugansk and Donetsk, but also by Moscow and St. Petersburg, then perhaps not all of them would be perceived that way. In the meantime, it’s the other way around,” Parfenov said.
“I think it’s too easy to say, ‘What do you want? We are at war! Well, in Odessa the cornices have been falling for 15 years. It wasn’t the separatists who broke them off,” the Russian liberal continued his thought, the PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
According to Parfenov, he often comes to Ukraine - he lived for a long time in Kyiv, Lvov and Odessa during the filming of the film “Russian Jews”. However, he doesn't see much change.
“In Georgia, for example, the changes have become very clear due to the fact that the grassroots corruption that any tourist encountered has gone away. It seemed like it would never go away. Here the traffic policeman Givi stands on Rustaveli Avenue and takes a ruble from each passing person...”, Parfenov recalled.
“But there is no such thing in Ukraine either,” TV presenter Natalya Vlashchenko interrupted him.
“What is striking in Ukraine, and it does not go away, is the contrast between wealth and poverty. This is even worse than in Russia. This is such irresponsibility of the elites! About 15 years ago I saw the Brioni boutique in Kyiv. He was not in Moscow! Is there a need for five thousand men’s suits in Kyiv?” – Parfenov was amazed.
“It just takes me by surprise. With such roads there are so many luxury cars. Even in Kyiv, the pavements are so broken, and such cars drive around them!” – Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko also got it from the guest from Moscow.
“I can already imagine how this will be perceived. In Ukraine, they are very sensitive when people come from Russia and criticize what is happening here,” the TV presenter noted.
“Well, don't ask then. Why are you asking us? If you know everything yourself, why are you interested in the opinion of Russians?” - Parfenov answered.
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