Russian jazzman and politician vowed to defend the United States in arms

The famous jazz musician, member of the Supreme Council of United Russia, Igor Butman, responded to the remark of opposition leader Alexei Navalny regarding his dual Russian-American citizenship. He explained that a US passport allows him to tour without applying for visas.

Discussion of jazzman civilian originated after Butman criticized the request of the US State Department not to go to the Crimea to the Koktebel Jazz Party music festival. Bulk drew attention to the phrase from interview musician on his official website about obtaining US citizenship.

The oppositionist recalled that, upon accepting US citizenship, Butman had to swear allegiance and allegiance to any state of which he was previously a citizen, and promise to “faithfully serve the United States” and defend his new homeland with arms in hand. "So it goes. A member of the highest council of Russia's ruling party has officially renounced allegiance and allegiance to Russia, vowing to defend the United States with arms in hand. But you are still a foreign agent,” Navalny wrote on his blog.

“I took this oath, it is taken by everyone who accepts American citizenship. How many of our outstanding athletes have taken this oath and defend the honor of Russia at international competitions... I don’t need to defend anything with weapons in my hands yet, thank God, and I hope it won’t come to that. I have dual citizenship. I do not hold any government positions, but am a member of a public organization. If they offer you a government post, you will have to choose,” Butman said about this RIA News".

The musician explained that American citizenship allows him to travel around the world without a visa. “I travel around the world, playing so-called American music - jazz, although, of course, it has long been no longer American, but belongs to everyone. Through music I create a connection between Russia and America, to which I have no antagonism, I have many friends there,” Butman said.

Let us recall that having received a letter from the State Department asking him to refrain from participating in the Crimean festival, Igor Butman wrote a letter to the Presidents of the United States and Ukraine Barack Obama and Petro Poroshenko, stating that such bans are “wrong” because participation in such meetings for musicians is not business, but “our passion and love for music.” He also reminded Poroshenko of his own words that “music stands above politics.”