Putin and the Presidents: Yevgenia Albats (interview) | FRONTLINE

Yevgenia Albats is an investigative journalist and editor-in-chief of The New Times, a Moscow-based independent political weekly. She is the author of four books, including The State Within a State: The KGB and Its Hold on Russia-Past, Present and Future.
The following interview was conducted by the Kirk Documentary Group’s Michael Wiser for FRONTLINE on Sept. 29, 2022. It has been edited for clarity and length.
This interview is being published as part of FRONTLINE’s Transparency Project, an effort to open up the source material behind our documentaries. Explore the transcript of this interview, and others, on the FRONTLINE website: www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/in...
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[Malte Persike]

I am in absolute awe. The raw emotion barely contained by Yewgenia Albats is indicative of how broken all of the involved societies are and how hopeless the situation is.

[lubefish]

but you know xD

[NoForum]

@lubefishare you struggling to say something?

[lubefish]

No need to say anything 🤭 she said everything that needed to be said 🤭 mostly "but you know" 🤣 if you still dont get my point play it again and count how many times she says "but you know" or just "you know" 🤭

[King Solomon]

@lubefish Do you understand that , this’s not her native language. Thus she made her points very clear. I don’t understand why you’re mocking her.I think is just pure ignorance from you. I hope I am wrong.

[Patricia Munro]

I have truly had the privilege of listening to the best description of Putin that I have heard. I am a first-generation Slovak and am very familiar with the old USSR and Putin. I am grateful that you are informing our young people and helping the world understand the terrible motives for the Ukraine invasion. Thank you

[etemy tradel]

My family is from eastern Ukraine and nobody there calls themselves Ukrainian. I was actually brought up being told I was doing it the Ukrainian way everytime I messed up. Maybe it is more important what the people living there think not some idiots who want a comedian to run a puppet anericant government and start wars.

[William Becking]

Everyone should take the time to listen to this. Unfortunately most people have the attention span of a gnat!

[Sandra Johnson-Erickson]

I can only pray more people listen to this. This interview would be one that if we all watched TV or could interrupt what people are watching, like in the 70s, she is one person that puts everything I have heard about Putin in a kind but very frank way. The US needs to reframe how we establish relations on our end, how our people are looking at their country

[Sandra Johnson-Erickson]

I believe the people of Ukraine are beginning to see that they will be themselves one day. I wish all people in the world had opportunity to be themselves working along side others. I feel being an American means you serve others puppet -like. It is hard to do more than work at work, home, church, and community. Yet so many are homeless.

[Angela Smirnova]

Thank you to Evgenia Albats for such an emotional and powerful speech.

[Fyrd Færeld]

Exactly! I applaud Yevgenia's justified and eloquent moral outrage.

[Jed]

If only there were more Russian voices like this honest articulate women. A brave women.

[Michelle Meireles]

woman=1 women=2 or more (Please don't feel offended, I'm just trying to help you understand the concept, so it's easier to remember. English isn't my first language either, so I know how this helps, like it helped me). 😊 ✌🏻

[Donbass Comrade]

There are a lot of russian voices. Also voices of brave russian women too. Unfortunatelly there's a huge state machine suppressing them all. That machine fuelled by European funds and encouraged by so-called West's impotence. Exactly as Yevgenia is explaining in this amazing interview.

[Bob Bear]

@Donbass Comrade ??? fueled by who??? Who invaded, Russia, no one else is responsible

[PandemoniumMeltDown]

There are many, they just don't get conveyed to the "West". Some manage, they're hard to find.

[Diesel Motorny]

Far too many russian voices there. Listen to the voices of Chechens, Ukrainians, Tatars, Dagestanians instead. They know where Albats manipulates and how to oppose her.

[roy etier]

I’ve watched the interviews with Mrs. Albats and some other Russian journalists and these are some of the bravest journalists out there. Julia Loffe is another really good journalist on Russia and Ukraine.

[Tish Hill]

What an example you are, Ms Albats, of the bravest person of intellectual and personal and moral integrity. Our gain of you in this country is Russia's desperate loss. Together with others who have watched this, I wish you could have your own TV show here in any language you'd like (subtitles are always possible!). You move and break my heart. Lucky NYU to have you. This is a greatly informative interview showing the depth of your knowledge and passion. Spasibo ❤️🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦

[Tish Hill]

Yes! She has her own KZbin channel in Russian without English subtitles...so those of us who weren't able to learn Russian cannot benefit from her channel, alas.

[Damnnn]

@Tish Hill you can try translating the auto captions to English, might get the majority of what is said

[Tish Hill]

@Damnnn Thanks! I tried but I found no option for English captions. I very much appreciate your suggestion -- nice to hear from you. Kind. Thoughtful.

[Helen Bichard]

Wonderful insight of the subject from the mouth of a Russian citizen . Love her direct observations & her historical parrellels.

[Eric Sarnoski]

I was really touched by her passion against the injustice perpetrated upon the peace loving people of Ukraine. Putin reigns over an empire of evil.

[Sven Bijleveld]

24:37 She really hits the nail on the head on this one, after all we have been through in the 20th century we did not have the self reflection to see how we also enabled this.

[Jahson Ntare]

Merciiiiii

[longshotny]

👍🏿✔️

[roy etier]

That is a very powerful statement she makes and is 100% correct. I’d love to see her speak in person. She is a very brave female journalist and is teaching our kids in universities here in the USA. God Bless Mrs. ALBATS

[31Blaize]

We should have been listening to people like this lady for a long time instead of pretending that everything was fine. And we should not forget this in future dealings with Russia.

[Boozehounde]

This was the best interview from the entire series. She was correct. Putin is destroying two countries at the same time.

[Freedom Spirit]

Lezensky is also destroying Ukraine.

[LoveMyPeople04]

@Freedom Spirit lol his ppl don’t think so. When was the last time you saw Ukrainian soldiers run away? Lol..half off young Russians have left the country..that says a lot

[LoveMyPeople04]

@Freedom Spirit lol yeah just like Ukraine was to be “de-nazify from the nazi in the Ukraine government” right? Lol y’all really need to stick to one blame…first it was “nato is surrounding u” than it was “Ukraine must be de-nazify”. Now it’s “Ukraine is being used as a proxy” 😂😂😂😂get your story straight homie..cause y’all got a out 10 different stories why you started you’re “2days special military operation” lol

[Living Life on Life's Terms]

Wow this was very very well said and from a Russian perspective. I will not forget her last 15 minutes of the interview. Perhaps she needs to speak to all the NATO country leaders and reiterate the points of being decisive.

[cUgeezzz]

this woman should have her own show , she needs a wider platform so her voice is can be my heard by a larger demographic. Thank You yes please if you ever choose to teach our country will benefit greatly. SLAVA UKRAINE🇺🇦

[Tish Hill]

Yes! Agree fully. Slava Ukraine!

[W Bin]

She has her own KZbin channel. ✅ Share it.

[W Bin]

​ Ruwayda Struwe is a troll dont answer they get paid extrs

[out side]

This woman is a credit to herself and us

[Lisa Downie]

Great interviewee 👏🏻 Russia needs a president with her mental clarity & Integrity.

[Jaime Kuehner]

I love this woman. God bless her bravery.

[Charles Burnham]

"Strong society, weak state." WOW. Now THAT is an insight that I've never considered. Her assessment of Putin's character- I wish all the Putin fanboys in the Middle East, Africa and China could hear this.

[Fyrd Færeld]

"Strong society, weak state", but with the enormous potential that strong, determined, activated societies can realize.

[Laurie]

I've heard Ukrainians describe their country in exactly the same way.

[Sachin Tomar]

Actually tbh, no one in Asia or Africa really cares about the ongoings and goingons in Europe. They are a tiny corner of the planet (compared to India, China and Africa) in terms of population and area. In terms of economy in the next 2 decades, it will be the BRICS nations that will prospoer and for sure be larger than the European economy put together. The US is very much responsible for what is happening in Ukraine today with their obsession with shouts of NATO, NATO and NATO in the corner of Russia. Imagine the idea that Presidents of Latin America suddenly become friends of Russia, what would the US think about that. Russians do not want the West in their neighborhood and no one in Asia really cares about this. It is Europe's problem and they need to solve it. Nationalism is very important today to rising Asian and African countries. Global problems arent their problems while they want to participate in Global successes - which is what the West did in the 20th century with imperialistic rules in the 3rd world. Today the 3rd world has become 2nd and after 2050 it will be almost at par with the 1st world due to massive markets due to large populations and manufacturing growth!

[Donbass Comrade]

There are a lot of Putin fanboys in developed contries too.

[Laurie]

She is right that we could have taken REAL decisive steps, but chose not to. Her honesty is both amazing and disheartening.

[Kristal Kristal]

I just listened to Ms Albat's two hour long interview for the "Putin Files" series, and I swear, I could easily sit through another 3 hours of hearing this extraordinary woman speak and not be bored for a single minute of it. And I have ADHD. She is that commanding, that engaging. To hear this woman speak is to give respect, to give all your time and to listen. Yevgenia Albats really puts the lie to this "strong man" bullshit that everyone used to justify Putin's mere existence as president for so long. This, here, is some real strength. Ms Albats is like a beautiful force of nature, and the Russian people were fools if they did not elect her. I have my doubts, of course. Russia might have had just one free election in its entire history and existence on this planet, and then again, perhaps not even that one.

[The Deer Garden]

I could listen to Yevgenia all day. I feel her frustration when she talks about how we are are watching a modern day Hitler meanwhile we haven’t learned any lessons. After a whole year I now believe the west actually should send in forces maybe on volunteer basis to support Ukraine and crush Putin’s war criminals. Russia has crossed so many redlines so far that it’s ridiculous to think we can’t push back. Otherwise this is dragging out for years with Ukraine turned into rubble like Poland was after WW2.

[s v]

Would you volunteer ?

[Young Shinigami]

This is some of the most amazing insightful information on this life we're in I've ever heard in my life.

[Andrew S]

No one understands the depths of Putin's evil better than the people who endured life under communism. I love what this woman has to say.

[P. H.]

WHAT A WOMAN!!!! WHAT A GREAT WOMAN. SHE SPEAKS OUT LOUDLY WHAT I THINK AND FEEL.

[Cat B]

Wow! Thanks for this interview. It is the best explanation of Putin’s political views.

[Speakwell.]

To have such fluency in English, and to be able to articulate in extraordinary depth, a subject of such complexity, is an example of great intellectual ability. Thank you.

[Ihor Mudryy]

Very emotional, but sincere, direct and straight to the point like eastern europeans do!

[Jessica H.I.]

Wow! What an inspiration you are and always have been, Ms Albats! Hats off to you! ❤

[Bamiro Olamide]

This is a fascinating, Jaw-dropping interview. she just kept hitting those nails on the head. She is clear eyed unlike Macron, Biden, Sholtz etc

[Carol Williams]

Totally.

[selbalamir]

Finally. Someone who doesn’t tiptoe around evil.

[Mirthjoy Gladly]

Best interview yet. Thank you for making this accessible to everyone.

[Clarita Cooke]

She absolutely nails the truth of this terrible situation and all the denial that contributes to it- and expresses her keen vision with appropriate anger. It’s very refreshing although not uplifting. So impressed. Possibly the best Frontline interview I’ve ever watched.

[Mehran H]

One of the best interviews ever on Putin, and war in Ukraine. If European allow Putin win this war, they have signed for their own gradual demise. Even if this takes a nuclear confrontation.

[Aussie Mocha]

Right 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 They will be signing their countries over to a new wave of Russification

[SolSere Jeremy]

@Aussie Mocha Not to happen, if we, the peoples of Europe have a say about it.

[Aussie Mocha]

@SolSere Jeremy Good 👍🏻! Jolly well hope not

[Jason Beaudoin]

This is such an interesting and insightful interview. A helpful crash course in recent Russia-US history from a fantastic Russian intellectual’s perspective which filled in gaps that we miss from our often arrogant Western perspective haha Love this woman!

[Candy Hot Lips]

Love this woman. Thank you for interviewing her.💚💖💜

[Aussie Mocha]

23:54 “I HATE PUTIN” This is SO POWERFUL the way she said this. I haven’t heard anyone else say it. It makes me laugh and brings up this evil little sentiment of satisfaction from hearing those words being spoken . Slava Ukraine 🇺🇦

[Debs]

There’s a voice inside me that everyday says the same words, for the past year, when I wake in my warm comfortable bed and then think of the Ukrainians. Yes. Putin is a monster. The west handling of Russia is disgusting.

[Destroyer Armor]

@Debs follow the money

[Peter Nolan]

@Destroyer Armor Which means what? Another Putin apologist.

[NoForum]

@Destroyer Armor Follow it back to the troll farm where you’re concerned

[Venkatesh Subramanian]

@Peter Nolan didn't like what he said? Your hand must be in the till as well....

[The Cochlear Life of Brian]

She's brilliant in this video and I am in awe of her unbending morality. Such clarity is rare to see.

[Darren Howell]

Brilliant with how correct this lady the truth hurts great interview and correct on so many fronts 👌⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[MaxPeck]

From France, I find all your interviews very enlightening, your work extremely interesting. 👍🇨🇵🤝🇺🇲

[Vodguk]

Amazing interview. Thank you, Frontline 👍🏼

[kellycrete]

I want her on Fox News. On every single news media, but especially FOX! She’s amazing

[claes mansson]

Fox ?, I didn t hear her talk well of Trump, or his channel!

[kellycrete]

@claes mansson exactly 😏 but she’s russian so she can counter all the propaganda they’re pushing

[Brian Holl]

Bravo, and thank you for saying all of this. From your words, I can not think of a better example of what truth to power means. You are truly a great Russian!

[RivaDog]

Mrs. Albats I feel your pain, sorrow and anger!! And I totally agree with you..

[Tish Hill]

I second this entire statement totally, with all my heart.

[Grandma Kelly]

I really admire this lady.

[NckBrktt]

Yevgenia Albats is at full strength now she has left Russia. A brilliant and very chilling analysis.

[Evil Twin]

Love these extended interviews 😍

[mike bush]

Every democratic leader in the world should see this. Equates Putin to Hitler.

[surely you joke, mein failüre]

"Trained not to reveal his soul, if he has any or had any" -- perfect

[J]

Yevgenia is a phenomenal person who dares speak truth. "Why was everyone so blind?"

[Cat C🧋]

Always good to hear from Zhenya. I’m glad she left Russia for her safety, because she is a trusted Russian-language source on her KZbin channel. She’s a badly-needed counterbalance to the 24/7 propaganda on state TV.

[longshotny]

Sounds about right

[Litte Liten]

Powerful truth b*mbs from this lady as far as I ca see.

[Junior Roselyn Roselyn]

She is fooling around the reason she doesn’t like Putin is for personal reasons she left Russia as all Imigrantes come to America because of the good economy Us have so far

[Cecil Treadwell]

@Litte Liten - Too bad so many Americans have an appetite for slick B.S. instead. They would rather listen to FOX Noise.

[gskgregor]

Wow, what a compelling interview!

[William Young]

This woman should be president of the Russian Federation.

[Big Guy]

I support this Woman as President of the Russian Federation. She is very wise.

[maxime arnoldi]

agreed!

[Junior Roselyn Roselyn]

You all Bots

[Sergey Gokun]

@@bigguy467 you are not Russian so your opinions here don't matter , what matters is that the Russian people love him 😉

[fernando perez]

the best analysis of Putin, Russia and Ukraine. It is a pleasure to listen to a person with such knowledge and analytical skills.

[Vangelis Vrachliotis]

It is a really excellent presentation!!!! Worth every word that she says

[Marcus Liou]

Scariest part about her analogies between Hitler and Putin is that Hitler didn't have nuclear weapons, but Putin DOES have nuclear weapons.

[doc martin]

Why isn’t this interview broadly and repeatedly played so that this wise woman (Yewgenia Albats) can be heard endlessly…. She does not mince her words. For anyone who still doesn’t comprehend the full scale horror of this war, or the reasons behind it, listen to this in its entirety. Thank you PBS.

[Peter Kull]

Iám meanwhile 67 years old and what you probably may call an ordinary German man BUT- even I learned (after I listened his Munich speach) it might be dangerous having a former FSB/KGB agent as the president of Russia. AND than we had this traitor (Bundeskanzler) Schröder and all his entourage telling us that Putin is a bespoke democrate. Thank you Mrs. Albats for this comprehensive description of Putin.

[SolSere Jeremy]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[Brian KENAKIN]

This woman was on 🔥. Like Chamberlain before WW II, Americans didn't believe that Putin would do what he said. We are in for a long fight.

[Gabriel Gabriel]

Best interview by far.

[Friedrich Schuessler]

i like her style of opposing that putin-tug very loudly and strong. after 2014 i opposed the german policy opposite russia very much in discussions with friends - believe me i had a hard time then. and even how - although it is slowly changing - people here like to hide from reality. we have to go a long way in germany to be like the anglosaxons in the way of defending freedom

[Google User]

Dear Yevgenya, thank you for your presentation. It's a nice speech and sincere presentation!

[Hieu Vu]

After my parents, I would like my children to call this lady grandma. She is right on the targets from start to finish during the interview.

[Adriano Celentano]

I would like to have this available in German language for my fellow citizens.

[MistieBlue]

And in French language!

[dmatej79]

With subtitles you can also visit more clever educated Russians, usually in exile now. But these from PBS are awesome too.

[MistieBlue]

@dmatej79 Will you plz give some information about that? Thx 😊

[SolSere Jeremy]

Mache dir keine Sorgen, wer will, wird das auch so verstehen können.

[Jane CK.]

The entire interview is the best I have heard so far on this topic - but at about 45:10 and up - touche, Yevgenia, no one has said it better.

[SolSere Jeremy]

Absolutely great interview. It should have way more clicks. A cohesive and very lucid description of the state of the affairs about Russia's war on Ukraine. Western policy advisers and NATO policy advisers should listen and implement ASAP. If Europe and America don't push back decisively there will be no security in Europe in the following decades. As citizens, and I'm from Germany, we need to change our perspective how our world was changed after the start of the Russian invasion on Feb., 24th 2022 completely.

[artmusic2]

"Do not pet the tiger!" Ms. Yevgenia Albats💛💙 - so agree with all her astonishing insights on Putin; and his "tiger" fascism, wrapped in horrendous kleptocracy & cruelty. SLAVA UKRAINE.

[donyboy73]

Best explanation ever from this smart woman!

[Valerie Walwyn]

Best interview that I’ve seen that helps us in democratic countries to better understand Russia; it’s people and Putin: and also our part in this war. She’s brilliant and Russia’s loss

[Mike Gr]

She is a star!!

[Jason Calvo]

I have so much respect for her. She sees it all for that it is. She feels guilty as a Russian for what Putin is doing. Wow she is brilliant and I respect her so much.

[Ben B]

I wonder why Frontline waited so much longer to release this full interview compared to the other three?

[steve beer]

Truth, eggbound and fragile becomes a flaming phoenix! There IS such a thing as Absolute Truth. As Eugine Hutz says "This is more than True, it actually happened". This woman speaks unadulterated Truth..Thank you Yevgenia Albats.Slava Ukraine

[yossarian MNichols]

This a much more logical theory of why Putin invaded. It really makes sense.

[Cecil Treadwell]

What a brilliant perceptive mind! Thank you for this informative interview.

[Bamiro Olamide]

OMG. This insight is incredible

[speculawyer]

"Hitler spoke German!" was a hilarious line! 😂

[HAMA]

Wow this lady is keepin it real. Respect

[John Doe]

In case you're wondering... That's not just a "Russian accent". This is a "signature" accent of someone who learned English before she traveled outside USSR, from Soviet teachers who themselves had never been outside the USSR, and she learned the pronunciation exactly as taught... I've met MANY folks who speak this exact version "Standard Soviet English" versus just Russian accent.

[Kid Rocker]

it"s a soviet jewish accent in case you're wondering.

[Nigel Williams]

Fascinating. I’m a linguist however Slavic languages aren’t within the purview of my expertise haha. But her accent was obviously more than, as you said, “Russian”. Thanks for the insight! I’ll have to do a research dive

[MJ0507]

Yup, my English teacher that has never been in any English speaking country spoke with that exact accent😂

[Ola Tedin]

Can't wait to see when you get interviewed on the show! :)

[Tish Hill]

She was at Harvard for a while -- English is the main language spoken and written there, mates. And she simply has her own Russian-English accent. It is not a Yiddish accent!

[Cecil Treadwell]

She's right. We basted in our own wishful thinking.

[wendus93]

The stuff that Yevgenia says - the way Russia and Putin see the world - is exactly how my great aunt sees the world and she, of course, is a victim of Russian propaganda. Sad, but scary. It's scary how much influence Russian propaganda has.

[BigAlNaAlba]

Wow! That lady is blunt and direct in her assessment, I wonder if her warnings will continue to fall on deaf ears?

[Alexis M]

Oh they will. 😢

[Andrew S]

I think most of us have woken up to what Putin is about. And that number keeps climbing.

[Madalena Da silva]

Let,s hope that this exceptional interview will reach government people from USA and EU too. It would be a good lesson for then

[d. anne Johnson]

Really Brilliant....makes so much sense of how this awful situation came to be.... Thank you.

[jondowee]

I love her. She does not mince words.

[Curtis Webb]

She's so badass.

[Kurt M]

This is by far the best interview I’ve seen on the subject… ever

[Logen]

the best interview ever. it needs to see everyone

[Gogu de la Gazé]

Very good interview. One thing I'd like to add - "[Putin believes]..Ordinary people are unable to unite" - This is true, but it's not just Putin, it's a very commonly held belief in Russia, and much of the eastern bloc. Over the last 30 years, as we've developed a civil society in the post soviet countries, this situation has improved in some countries more than others. Unfortunately, since Russia hasn't developed at all since the early 90s in this aspect, they're the least united. Even now, whenever there's a protest, you often hear remarks from people around you such as "How much were you paid to protest?", because people of the old school soviet mentality are unable to imagine protesting out of a principle, or a personal belief.

[Arlene Nolte]

I love Ms. Albats, she tells things like they are.

[Des Baldwin]

Love her she's brilliant

[P. H.]

A really great channel and great speakers!

[dudelicious]

This Lady speaks truth only💙💛

[raul rabufetti]

what a brave woman

[daryoush haj-najafi]

FUCKING LOVE HER.

[Rica Lina]

Yet another great interview! Thank you!

[Elise Leonard]

Wonderful insight and directness.

[Junior Roselyn Roselyn]

She probably hit on Putin and he rejected her that is why so hate against her 😂😂😂😂

[Brad Witham]

@Junior Roselyn Roselyn you probably think farts are funny little kid

[αλλο]

42:20 ""Russians are in love with me, Vladimir Putin. I’m macho guy. Look at me, you know, with my naked torso. I’m a great guy.” He loves himself to death." The final sentence, in particular sums up Tsar Runt's unjustified megalomania. Pah! You look less nauseating with your shirt on, Pooti.

[Tom Tyl]

This entire series is very informative.

[Artur Wiebe]

"I hate Putin" - I felt it as she said it. Thank you.

[KileyLagan]

FAbulous interview. No one knows Putin like an intelligent Russsian. I'd like to see or read more from her in future.

[SGT. NMI]

This woman tells it like it is. Damn.