âI donât regret that I asked President Putin for a waltzâ
The former Foreign Minister of Austria says she has no regrets about inviting President Putin to her 2018 wedding
The former Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl has told the ±«Óătv she has no regrets over inviting President Putin to her 2018 wedding saying, âIâm not now going to start this mea culpa storyâ
âI had informed a number of political dignitaries about the wedding, among them members of the Austrian government. And I had also handed an invitation to President PutinâŠon his state visit to Vienna on the invitation of the Austrian President in June 2018. To my big surprise he accepted the invitation.â
After pictures of her dancing with Vladimir Putin at her wedding were circulated, Ms Kneissl attracted heavy criticism, especially for an image of her curtseying to the Russian President.
Asked whether she thought the invitation was unwise, Ms Kneissl said: âNo - it was not unwise and I am not going to start now this mea culpa story... No I donât regret that I asked President Putin for a waltz. He made a bow and in response to that I did what a lady does when she has danced with a gentleman, I made my reverenceâ.
Ms Kneissl now lives in Lebanon after saying that she could no longer find work in Austria.
