Ukraine President Ends Hostage Situation by Recommending a Joaquin Phoenix Movie on Social Media

In an incident, that seems to have been pulled out of a badly scripted Hollywood film, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had to post a movie recommendation on his social media as one of the demands of an armed man, who had taken 13 people hostage on a bus. As per a report by The New York Times between the hostage-taker and the Ukrainian officials lasted for 12 hours, during which the criminal made eccentric demands. Another one of his demands included that Ukrainian officials members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church should release statements on social media calling themselves terrorists.

The demand that has stunned the world was the one where the hostage-taker, identified as 44-year-old Maksym Kryvosh, demanded that the President should endorse the 2005  documentary Earthlings, narrated by Joaquin Phoenix.

The documentary explores the use of animals in agricultural and scientific industries. The movie also shows brutal images of animals suffering. It also compares speciesism to racism and sexism.

Zelensky followed the request, posting on Facebook, "Everybody watch the 2005 documentary 'Earthlings.'" He later deleted the post. After which, the hostages were released and Kryvosh surrendered.

Local media outlets in Ukraine suggest that Kryvosh made the hostages watch Earthlings on the bus, while they were trapped there for over 12 hours.

Interior Minister Arsen Avakov revealed to the press:  "He really had a functioning pistol, an automatic rifle, he really had a grenade. There was a threat. But it's all in the past."

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 22, 2020 05:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).