Tucker Carlson's interview largely avoided pressing Putin on issues such as the invasion of Ukraine or alleged war crimes.
During a highly anticipated interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, American television host Tucker Carlson appeared to give the Kremlin leader free rein, focusing more on friendly conversation than challenging questions. bbc reported.
In what was billed as a triumph for free speech, Carlson's interview largely avoided pressing Putin on issues such as the invasion of Ukraine or alleged war crimes. Instead, the conversation turned to religion and the Russian soul.
Despite touting the interview as a bold step into uncharted territory, Carlson's approach was criticized for failing to hold Putin accountable for his actions. The journalist's claim to go where other Western media outlets feared to go was debunked, highlighting the Kremlin's selective choices of interviewees who lack the language or knowledge of the country to effectively challenge Putin.
The interview, which lasted two hours, only broached the topic of an imprisoned American journalist, Evan Gershkovich, at the end of the conversation. Carlson's suggestion that Putin release the journalist from his custody hinted at possible negotiations, and Putin indicated a desire for a prisoner swap involving a Russian “patriot” accused of eliminating a Chechen separatist in Berlin.
Critics argue that Carlson missed an opportunity to confront Putin on critical issues, allowing the Russian president to present his perspectives unchallenged. While not all interviews have to be combative, this encounter raised concerns about the lack of scrutiny of Putin's actions, especially in relation to the invasion of Ukraine and human rights violations inside Russia.
