In a series of interviews conducted over the course of two years, airing this month on Showtime, Russian President Vladimir Putin told documentary filmmaker Oliver Stone in July 2015 that he believes the CIA was instrumental in the creation of Al Qaeda, and have used Islamic terrorist groups to destabilize Russia. 

(VERO BEACH, FL) Heres a transcript of President Putin’s comments, following a statement by Mr. Stone regarding Russia’s alleged support for President Bush during the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001:

STONE: When President Bush invaded Afghanistan President Putin cooperated with the invasion and setup bases in the Caucasus’ in Eurasia in order for the Americans to supply line Afghanistan.

PUTIN: Well, its not exactly like that. We didn’t set up any military bases purposefully. Sine the Soviet Union, we have had a division in Tajikistan, which we later turned into military bases. Specifically to protect this dangerous direction from the terrorists’ point of view in Afghanistan. But we supported the United States, and we allowed them to use ur territory to supply weapons.

STONE: And continue to do so until recently.

PUTIN: Yes. Yes. We feel this cooperation is in our national interest. This is a field where we can and should put our forces together. We provided them with additional information, including intelligence information.

STONE: Russia has a long history in Afghanistan, so how come you guys did not figure out where [Osama] bin Laden was and what was really happening with bin Laden? Not just where he was, but how weak the Al-Qaeda base was at this point in Afghanistan?

PUTIN: Al-Qaeda is not the result of our activities. It’s the result of the activities of our American friends. It all started during the Soviet war in Afghanistan [1979-1989]. When the American intelligence officers provided support to different forms of Islamic fundamentalism, helping them to fight the Soviet troops in Afghanistan. So the Americans themselves nurtured both-Al-Qaeda and bin Laden. But it all spun out of control. And it always happens. And our partners in the United States should have known about that. So they’re to blame.

STONE: Bill Casey, Director of the CIA under [President] Ronald Reagan [1981-1987], made it a special effort to excite the Muslims in the Caucasus’ in Central Asia against the Soviet Union. His plan was bigger than just to defeat the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, his plan was basically regime change in Soviet Union [sic].

PUTIN: You see, those ideas are still alive. And when those problems in Chechnya and the Caucasus emerged, the Americans, unfortunately, supported those processes. We assumed the Cold War was over, that we had transparent relations, with the rest of the world, with Europe and the U.S. And we certainly counted on support, but instead, we witnessed the American Intelligence Services support terrorists. I’m going to say something very important, I believe. We had a very confident opinion back then, that our American partners in words were talking about support to Russia, the need to cooperate, including fighting terrorism, but in reality they were using those terrorists to destabilize the internal political situation in Russia.

• 2002 Nord-Ost Siege, Dubrovka Theatre, Moscow, Russia – 170 deaths (133 hostages, 40 Chechen terrorists)
• 2004 Beslan School Siege, Beslan, North Ossetia – 385 deaths (334 hostages, 186 children, 31 Chechen terrorists)

STONE: In his mind what was the most dangerous moment in the Chechen wars? The first one [1994-1995], the second one [1999-2009], what years?

PUTIN: I find it difficult to name a particular moment. The so-called Chechen War started when the people, civilians in Dagestan — and Dagestan is also a Muslim republic — they took up arms and they organized resistance to the terrorists. I remember well when Dagestan was not just urging us, they were crying to us, “If you don’t want to protect us, Russia, then give us arms and we’ll do that ourselves.”

STONE: The U.S. support was covert, you say you have evidence they that were supporting the Chechen’s?

PUTIN: Of course. But as to information and political support, that was evident to everyone, no proof is necessary. It was done publicly.

 Clip from Zbigniew Brzezinkski, U.S. National Security Advisor (1997-1981):

“I think the administration has adopted a hands off attitude, repeated like a manta that this is an internal Russian affair, which in effect, legitimated the Russian action, and then on top of it, senior administration spokesman have engaged in a vilification of the Chechen’s.”

PUTIN: As to the operative and financial support, we have this proof, and moreover, we submitted it to our American counterparts. There was one specific episode I brought up to President Bush. I even showed him the names of the employees from the U.S. Special Services, who had contracted militants from the Caucasus. And they weren’t just providing general political support, they were providing technical support, transporting fighters from one place to another. And the U.S. President’s response was very appropriate and very negative. He said he would look into it carefully. Later through communication with our partner, we received a latter from the CIA, which stated, “Our colleagues thought they had the right to maintain contact with representatives of the opposition forces, and they would continue to do so.” Evidently, they were not just talking about the opposition forces, they were also talking about the terrorist organizations and structures. Nevertheless, they were painted just as ordinary opposition.

STONE: And all this while they’re fighting the war against terror in Afghanistan, seems like contributory behavior, and strange behavior.

PUTIN: We have gotten used to these contradictions.

STONE: I guess the letter is top secret, so its not available for viewing?

PUTIN: I don’t think it would be appropriate, my words are enough. I think George remembers our conversation. I hope.

The full four hour interview is available through Showtime’s on demand service.

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