via Associated Press Arnold Schwarzenegger, here in April 2019.
PEOPLE – Arnold Schwarzenegger loves Russians. That’s why he decided to deliver a very personal message to them in a video produced by US media attn: and which he shared on his social media this Thursday, March 17th.
“I’m talking to you today because there are things going on in the world that are hidden from you, terrible things that you need to know about,” the 74-year-old movie star breathes.
Former bodybuilder Schwartzi recalls shaking hands with Russian athlete Yuri Petrovich Vlasov in 1961 when he was still a teenager. It stuck in his mind. The weightlifter became his idol, despite his father’s opposition at the time. “He was nice and smiled at me,” recalls the excited American.
“You are my new heroes”
Since then, he has always been “inspired by the Russian people” and Russia, a country where he also shot some of his films. “That’s why I hope you’ll let me tell the truth about the war in Ukraine and what’s going on there,” warns Arnold Schwarzenegger. No one likes when their government is criticized, and I understand this, but as a longtime friend of the Russian people, I hope that you will listen to what I have to say.
He throws himself. “I know that your government told you that this is a war for the denazization of Ukraine,” the politician comments. It is not true. Ukraine is a country with a Jewish president, whose [trois des oncles] were killed by the Nazis. Ukraine did not start the war, neither the nationalists nor the Nazis. The initiator of this was the Kremlin authorities. […] And 141 countries at the UN Assembly recognized Russia as an aggressor. They called on the country to withdraw its troops immediately.”
In his nine-minute message, the American urges Russians, as well as soldiers, to warn them of the Kremlin propaganda “of which they are victims.” To those he sees demonstrating against the authorities on the streets of Russia, he concludes: “You are my new heroes.”
See also The HuffPost: Arnold Schwarzenegger has a very clear message for Covid-19 skeptics.