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Morgan Freeman ridiculed by Kremlin for accusing Russia of declaring 'war' on US

Actor Morgan Freeman - AFP or licensors
Actor Morgan Freeman - AFP or licensors

The Kremlin has called the Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman "emotional and self-exalted" after he appeared in a high profile video accusing Vladimir Putin of declaring "war" on America during last year's US presidential election.

Senior Russian figures said they "could not take seriously" Freeman’s statement that Mr Putin had attacked the US out of revenge for the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Footage of Mr Freeman’s monologue sparked a media storm in Russia on Wednesday, and quickly proliferated on social media after it was published on the website of a new US group called "The Committee to Investigate Russia".

Dmitry Peskov, Mr Putin's spokesman, said: "Many performing artists easily succumb to becoming victims of emotional strain with no real information about the real state of things.

"They become victims of an emotionally charged, self-exalted status, an extension of some sort of McCarthyism, I would say. It fades away over time."

He added: "This can hardly be taken seriously, because it is obvious that such a phenomenon has no real informational basis, it’s purely emotional."

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (2nd L) attend a Victory Day parade at the Red Square in Moscow - Credit: MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/AFP/Getty Images
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev (2nd L) attend a Victory Day parade at the Red Square in Moscow Credit: MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/AFP/Getty Images

In the video Freeman, who has previously played the role of US President, said: "We are at war. We have been attacked."

He compared events to a movie script and said the attack was masterminded by Mr Putin "a former KGB spy, angry at the collapse of his motherland" who "plots a course for revenge".

Freeman said the Russian president used "cyber warfare to attack democracies around the world" and social media "to spread propaganda and false information".

Film | America’s highest grossing actors
Film | America’s highest grossing actors

He then urged US President Donald Trump to "tell the truth" to the American people and assure them US authorities had allocated "every resource available" to investigate Russian involvement in the 2016 election.

The actor said: "We need him to sit behind the desk in the Oval Office and say 'My fellow Americans, during this past election, we came under attack by the Russian government'." 

Leonid Slutsky, Russia’s State Duma deputy and chair of the Duma’s international affairs committee, called the video "another trick of anti-Trump circles".

Meg Ryan in 1989 film When Harry Met Sally - Credit:  
Meg Ryan in 1989 film When Harry Met Sally Credit:

Russia has been accused of interfering with the US election by hacking and leaking emails of the Democratic National Committee in an attempt to embarrass Hillary Clinton.

Its involvement is being investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller and several Congressional committees.

The Committee to Investigate Russia was set up by a group including film-maker and political activist Rob Reiner, who directed the movies When Harry Met Sally, Stand by Me, The Princess Bride, and This Is Spinal Tap.

Its advisory board also includes James Clapper, the former US Director of National Intelligence.

Mr Reiner told CNN: "It occurred to me that we've heard this cliche our whole lives - when our country is attacked, politics stops at the water's edge. This is the first time that that didn't happen.

"So I started reaching out to people who are patriots, and not necessarily my political stripe, to say we're all together in this. Our country is attacked. Democracy is on the brink. If we're going to survive, we need to come together as Americans and understand what happened."

On its website the group accused Russia of "using hacking, Twitter armies, and fake news in an aggressive effort to subvert the American democratic process".

Its mission was described as "helping Americans recognise and understand the gravity of Russia’s continuing attacks on our democracy".