Chairman of the Russian Oscar Committee, People’s Artist of Russia Vladimir Menshov does not support nomination of Nikita Mikhalkov’s Citadel for Oscar and refused to sign Committee’s protocol.

“Cinema shows and critics’ opinions do not prove the film’s worthiness,” ITAR TASS quoted Menshov as saying.

He emphasized that “there were a lot of worthy films this year to possibly represent Russia for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Key competitors of Citadel were Andrey Zvyangintsev's Elena and Aleksandr Sokurov's Faust, which was awarded Golden Lion in Venice.

Citadel, with $42 mln shooting budget, has got ambiguous feedback from critics and viewers and was a complete failure in cinemas.

Vladimir Menshov’s “Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears” won Oscar in 1981 as Best Foreign Language Film. Nikita Mikhalkov’s Burnt by the Sun won Oscar in 1994.