Ukrainian film director boycotts Armenian award

A Ukrainian film-maker, who co-directed a documentary devoted the Sergey Parajanov, has boycotted a state award nominated by Armenia.

Yelena Fetisova said she will not attend the award ceremony in Yerevan as a sign of disconent with the Armenian authorities’ stance on the Crimea referendum. She also declined to accept a money award, requesting instead that the sum go to the orphanages in Armenia, Comments.ua reported.

The Ukrainian director said she thinks that the Crimea referendum was held in violation of international law. She has described its outcome as a threat to Ukraine and the well-being of the mankind around the world. Fetisova has expressed her anger in an open letter to Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan. There she said that Parajanov would unequivocally act likewise if alive.

The award ceremony is due later today. The documentary Parajanov is a joint Ukrainian-Georgian-Armenian production. Its budget was 1.98 million Euros.