Serbian director Emir Kusturica called for a "peaceful evolution" of Russia and warned of the danger of a possible repetition of the post-Soviet chaos, reports the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
"For every Russian, from Vladivostok to Moscow, it is better to have a stable Russia than a Russia that will experiment and play with feelings, which can be very destructive," Kusturica said at a press conference in St. Petersburg.
He praised Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for bringing order to Russia, but added that he would "fight" him if he were an American.
"If I were an Englishman, I would be very much against Vladimir Putin. If I were an American, I would even fight with him, but if I were a Russian, I would vote for him," said Kusturica.
He said that when Putin visited Serbia last year, he was greeted as if he was a "Barcelona football player".
The two-time winner of the Cannes Golden Palm also stated that the Slavs possess a "self-destructive force" and suggested that the American model of democracy should not be forcibly imposed on the Russians.
"How can you talk about democracy grass in the tundra?" asked Kusturica.
Putin, who was president from 2000 to 2008, is expected to win the presidential election in March, but analysts warn of growing discontent among members of Russia's emerging middle class, which could see the current Russian prime minister face a potentially unfavorable run-off election. .
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