A sonata to Putin on italian tv

The long hagiography of Vladimir Vladimirovich transmitted bythe Italian channel  Rete 4 has represented yet another night of the news (and not because it aired late at night). The “documentary” was a fawning tribute to the president, a mega commercial directed to Italian vewers, a sweetened and slick fairytale. So, what’s the news?

I do not get the surprise expressed by many who have seen the long pseudo interview with Putin dubbed in Italian. Let’s contextualize. We are on Rete 4, in the late evening. The most “berlusconian” channel among Berlusconi’s channels decides to broadcast a movie on the life of Russian President, bundled by Russian state television. What would you expect?

Omissions

An hour and 40 minutes for the beatification of the tsar. A story that closely resembles a glossy brochure delivered to all the letterboxes of the Italians a few years ago, the (in)famous “Una storia italiana” the life of Berlusconi in pictures. The leader is fed by the myth. The myth is fed by the media. The media are Berlusconi’s business.

The embarrassing one hour and 40 tell the history of Russia from the late 90s, time of the rise to power of the unknown KGB agent, up to today. Or rather, yesterday. Because there is no trace of the airstrikes in Syria.

There are all the most important stages of these fifteen-year reign (de facto) uninterrupted. All, according to the version of the palace biographers.

There is the war on the oligarchs. Without saying that was it fought only against those who didn’t follow the Kremlin’s will. Without saying how the war was fought. Without a single mention of Khodorkovsky. And to the reporter who asked him how he managed to convince others to follow him, he replies with a grin, “Different ways”.

There is the tragedy of the Kursk, the submarine that sank with its crew. But not even a nod to the methods used to silence the protests of sailors mothers. Injections of sedatives at a press conference.

There is the taking of hostages at the Dubrovka theater, but not even a nod to the 130 spectators dead, killed by special forces during the raid and not by terrorists. And the words by Nikolai Patrushev, then head of the FSB, sound outrageous when he says that “the main objective was to save the hostages.”

The version of Putin

They are the actors of this story to sing the praises of their leader. The friends of the Petersburg circle, the siloviki, the men who have made their fortune in the shadow of the tsar. There’s Kadyrov, the little dictator of Grozny. There’s Vladimir Potanin, richest man in Russia. There’s the Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who perhaps do not realize that if “no president of another country had to overcome so many challenges” is probably because not all countries presidents remain in office 15 years (and more).

There’s His Holiness Kirill I, the Russian pope. It is as if Bergoglio did an appearance in an interview with Obama saying how good, righteous and good Catholic he is.

But beyond the hagiographic notes, the flattery of his subordinates, the servility of the interviewer, is Putin himself who always bring the conversation on the main theme. The common thread that unites all of the fifteen-year reign, namely the betrayal (indeed, betrayals) of America. When signing the non-proliferation treaties to dismantle Russia’s nuclear arsenal; when backing the Chechens; when attacking Iraq disregarding the will of Moscow; when getting NATO to Russia’s borders. It’s all there in the version of Putin, after all the most interesting aspect of the whole evening. If Russia today takes the Crimea by force, makes the war in Donbass and in Syria and focuses eyes on the Arctic with a Kalashnikov in hand, it is only America’s fault.

And he sums up with a phrase that explains all the Russian foreign policy: “A good word with a Smith & Wesson in the hand, is much more effective than a sole good word”.

@daniloeliatweet