“Pop-Titan” Dieter Bohlen comments on sanctions against Russia – and reaps sharp criticism, including from boxing world champion Wladimir Klitschko.
Berlin – Dieter Bohlen has positioned himself surprisingly clearly against Russia sanctions in the Ukraine war. At a panel discussion (“Founder Summit”) of the “Entrepeneur University”, a company specializing in further education, the “Pop-Titan” emphasized that negotiations with Putin would have been the better way than sanctions. “Well, if we hadn’t imposed the sanctions, if people had sat down sensibly at a table, then people wouldn’t need to do all the frills now. Now people have to freeze. […] It’s all shit,” Bohlen railed.
“But what happened there. The fact that Russia is selling gas to Asia for much more money, that the ruble is rising and the euro is falling: I no longer understand all of that,” explained the music producer.
Shitstorm against Dieter Bohlen on Twitter
Bohlen was again sharply criticized on Twitter for his statements. In addition to numerous user comments, Wladimir Klitschko, former world boxing champion and Ukrainian citizen, also spoke up.
“Dear friends in Germany, I’m sitting here in Kyiv, the air raid alarm just went off again,” said Klitschko. “I hear and read here that the sanctions against Russia are being questioned again and again, especially in Germany,” he continues and asks: “Do you, Dieter Bohlen, not care if people die here?” The brother of Kiev’s mayor Vitali Klitschko condemns the mere thought of “wanting to continue doing business with Russia,” Klitschko said in a statement he posted on Twitter.
Bohlen criticizes Russia sanctions – AfD and FPÖ applaud
On the other hand, there was applause from the AfD: Tino Chrupalla, federal spokesman for the party, thanked him in a tweet: “Dieter Bohlen represents the AfD’s point of view: without sanctions, citizens would not need to freeze. The sanctions do not affect Russia, but their own citizens. Thank you for having the courage to tell the truth, Mr. Bohlen!” said Chrupalla. There was also applause from Austria’s right-wing party. “Where he’s right, he’s right!” wrote Harald Vilimsky, FPÖ MP in the European Parliament.
In his statement, Bohlen not only criticized the Russia sanctions, but also claimed that the Greens’ management staff had “no professional qualifications”: “I have nothing against the Greens, but the entire management team has no professional qualifications or who knows what. When they talk about a shortage of skilled workers, my stomach gets a bit sour.” Only Annalena Baerbock and Robert Habeck have degrees from universities. (do with dpa/AFP)