Vladimir Putin meets a neutral press rarely. His annual “Conversation with the Russian People” consists of answering preselected questions. A few hostile questions slip through, but he has a way of batting them down, and no follow-ups are allowed. Putin’s announced interview with Tucker Carlson has raised eyebrows, in part because the former Fox News commentator was selected because he “differs from the rest” of Western media, a Kremlin spokesman said. But given the wide interest, the interview represents a possible opportunity to capture the “true Putin” on video.
Viewers can hope that Carlson’s interview prep focused on forming questions that Putin does not want to hear and for which he lacks a ready or good answer, and where fair viewers could easily conclude that the Russian leader is lying.
Here is a list of such questions:
First, how do you answer those who doubt the justification for your February 2022 invasion of Ukraine as the removal of a “Nazi regime” in Kyiv and a pre-emptive response to the imminent invasion of Russia by NATO forces? About the latter, we know of no NATO forces that were standing by to carry out an invasion of Russia in February 2022.
Second, although Russian casualties add up to much more than 100,000, why are the Russian people not allowed to call this conflict a “war” under threat of severe penalties, including prison? Why must they use the term “special military operation”?
Third, Russian forces who occupied Bucha, Ukraine, stand accused of war crimes against the civilian population, as demonstrated by evidence of torture, rape, and murder. What steps have you ordered to investigate and bring any of the perpetrators to justice?
Fourth, opposition leader Aleksei Navalny was poisoned on a flight from Siberia to Moscow, to be saved by serendipity. He subsequently elicited a confession from one of his poisoners, who worked for the poisons department of your FSB. What steps have you taken to bring this team of poisoners to justice? (The same sort of questions can be asked about the rash of regime opponents who have fallen to their deaths out of tall buildings. Can Putin tell us the results of his investigations into these deaths?)
Fifth, you have criticized the Ukrainian government as corrupt and hence not worthy of external assistance. The latest figures on corruption from Transparency International show Ukraine as recording the greatest improvement among European nations, while your own country remains the most corrupt. How do you respond?
Sixth, your counterpart in Ukraine, President Zelensky, has stated his annual income at a fairly high figure (approaching $1 million). Have you reported your income and wealth? Could you describe the houses and villas where you currently reside?
Seventh, the families of world leaders are usually quite well known. The world knows little about your own. Could you provide such information?
Eighth, given your frequently stated willingness to negotiate a peace settlement over Ukraine, what kind of assurances can you give that you would honor that agreement? Or would you merely see the settlement as a chance to rebuild your military forces for a new assault?
