Photo: HuffingtonPostUK
In a response to recent sanctions passed out by President Barack Obama, following Crimea’s referendum to Russia, Vladislav Surkov, Vladimir Putin’s top aide egregiously stated that Tupac Shakur is one of three things that hold any meaning to him from the U.S.
Surkov, referred to as the “grey cardinal” of the Kremlin, told a Russian newspaper that it was an honor for him to be among the 21 Ukrainians and Russians who had their assets frozen by the president.
“I don’t have any accounts abroad. The only things that interest me in the U.S. are Tupac Shakur, Allen Ginsberg and Jackson Pollock. I don’t need a visa to access their work. I lose nothing.”
Andrei Klishas, a Russian lawmaker who was also among the sanctioned, said the U.S. response was “no tragedy”.
President Putin seemed un-phased by the retaliation, just hours after, he signed a decree to recognize Crimea as an independent state, suggesting that this was the first move to include Crimea in the Russian Federation.
Putin, Klishas and Surkocv echo the sentiments of many who think that the sanctions are laughable.
Regardless of the impact, President Obama says the rebuke carried out his intent.
“We are making it clear that there are consequences for their actions,” Obama said.
