Kobzon: If I need treatment abroad, I will ask Putin's help

The People's Artist of the USSR and State Duma deputy Joseph Kobzon, if necessary, hopes for the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, if necessary. The singer said this in an interview with "Moscow Komsomolets."

"If these European sanctions would only concern Kobzon, I would have turned to the European Court, as Valeria did when she was banned from entering Jurmala. But dozens of our citizens were subjected to sanctions, I think we need to show solidarity. We all know what sanctions are, it is useless to fight them. If, for health reasons, they recommend that I have been operated on in the country that imposed sanctions, which imposed sanctions I think I will turn to the president and he will help me, ”Kobzon said.

Kobzon also expressed regret due to the fact that he could not visit his grandchildren in Spain. "I said to my daughter and my son: guys, we spend Augustus with my grandchildren in Bakovka," he said.

The interview was published in MK on Tuesday evening. In the morning, Kobzon told Komsomolskaya Pravda on Wednesday that he did not turn to Putin with a request to protect him from sanctions. “One hundred percent lies,” the singer said.

On February 16, Kobzon was included in the sanctions list of the European Union . The reason in the official journal of the EU was his visit to the DPR, during which he spoke in support of the separatists . In addition, Kobzon is appointed "Honorary Consul" of the DPR in Russia. It is also noted that on March 20, 2014, the deputy voted for the annexation of Crimea . Canada and Norway included the singer and Norway in their sanctions lists.

In the USA, Kobzon came for the last time in 1994. Since 1995, his visa was canceled by the State Department due to the possible involvement of the singer in "illegal operations with any of the drugs subject to control." The unofficial reason was called the possible ties of the singer with organized criminal groups in Russia.

In April 2012, the US Embassy in Moscow again refused Kobzon on an entry visa due to "suspicions of criminal activity or ties with persons who committed crimes in the United States."