Russia provides Ukrainian President Zelensky to its checklist of ‘needed criminals’ | World News
Russia has added Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to its checklist of needed criminals, a transfer Kyiv dismissed as an indication of Moscow’s “desperation”.
Zelensky’s identify appeared on Saturday on the Russian inside ministry’s “needed” checklist, a web-based database of alleged criminals sought by the Russian authorities.
It mentioned the Ukrainian chief was needed “beneath an article of the legal code”, with out offering additional particulars.
Ukraine’s overseas ministry mentioned the choice demonstrated “the desperation of the Russian state machine and propaganda, that are at a loss for what else to invent to garner consideration”.
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Moscow has focused Zelensky for the reason that begin of Russia’s navy offensive in Ukraine in February 2022.
The Ukrainian president mentioned final yr he was conscious of at the very least “5 – 6” assassination makes an attempt in opposition to him that had been foiled.
The day after sending troops into Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave an handle to the nation by which he urged the Ukrainian military to overthrow Zelensky.
Russia has positioned a number of overseas politicians and public figures on its needed checklist, which has tens of hundreds of entries.
The commander of Ukraine’s Land Forces, Oleksandr Pavliuk, and former Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko additionally appeared within the on-line database on Saturday.
Final yr the Worldwide Legal Court docket ordered the arrest of Putin on conflict crimes prices associated to the kidnapping of Ukrainian kids — accusations rejected by Moscow.
