OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham has had an arrest warrant issued for him, but it is not from anywhere in the United States.
The arrest warrant was issued by Russia after Sen. Graham met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his staff last week.
In the edited video, Graham noted that “the Russians are dying” and praised the U.S. military aid provided to Ukraine as “the best money we’ve ever spent.”
It appeared that the comments were not made at the same time but edited together before they were edited together by the Ukrainian government which made Russia furious.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said on Sunday that “it’s hard to imagine a greater shame for the country than having such senators.”
The Investigative Committee, Russia’s leading criminal investigation agency, has initiated a criminal inquiry against Graham, and the Interior Ministry has subsequently issued an arrest warrant for him, as confirmed by their official record of wanted criminal suspects on Monday.
Graham is also one of 200 U.S. lawmakers Russia banned from entering the country last year, ABC News reported.
But Sen. Graham did not back down on Twitter when he actually celebrated the arrest warrant being issued for him.
“To know that my commitment to Ukraine has drawn the ire of Putin’s regime brings me immense joy.”
“I will continue to stand with and for Ukraine’s freedom until every Russian soldier is expelled from Ukrainian territory,” he tweeted. “I will wear the arrest warrant issued by Putin’s corrupt and immoral government as a Badge of Honor.”
To know that my commitment to Ukraine has drawn the ire of Putin’s regime brings me immense joy.
I will continue to stand with and for Ukraine’s freedom until every Russian soldier is expelled from Ukrainian territory.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) May 29, 2023
Weeks ago the The Russian foreign ministry issued a list of 500 Americans barred from entering the nation, including former President Obama, late night hosts Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, and Seth Meyers along with former US Ambassador Jon Huntsman, CNN host Erin Burnett and a list of senators that included Sens. J.D. Vance, Katie Britt and Eric Schmitt, CNN reported.
“The attached ‘list-500’ also includes those in government and law enforcement agencies who are directly involved in the persecution of dissidents in the wake of the so-called Storming the Capitol,” it said.
On its website it said, “It is high time for Washington to learn that not a single hostile attack against Russia will go without a strong reaction.”
“In addition, the ministry said it is continuing to deny a US embassy request for consular access to American journalist Evan Gershkovich ‘due to the failure to issue visas to Russian journalists from the Lavrov pool,’ in apparent reference to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s trip to the United States in April,” CNN reported.
It came after the State Department announced new sanctions against Russia on its website.
“In coordination with the G7, Australia, and other partners, the United States is imposing new sanctions today on Russia for its illegal war in Ukraine. Today’s actions implement new commitments made at the G7 Leaders’ Summit and demonstrate our shared resolve to hold Russia accountable for its mounting atrocities in Ukraine. These sanctions also reinforce the commitment the United States and its partners have made to taking action against those who aid the Kremlin in Ukraine by circumventing our sanctions and export control measures,” the State Department said.
“As part of these actions, the Department of State is imposing sanctions on or identifying as blocked property over 200 entities, individuals, vessels, and aircraft. Today’s actions include designations of targets across Russia’s defense and related materiel, technology, and metals and mining sectors. Our actions also include the designation of entities and individuals involved in expanding Russia’s future energy production and capacity. And we are continuing to target entities and individuals that have engaged in the systematic and unlawful deportation of Ukraine’s children and the theft and transportation of stolen grain from Ukraine,” it said.
“Today’s actions also include designations of an international network of entities engaged in the procurement of components for the Russia-based entity responsible for the manufacture of the Orlan drone, which Russian forces are currently employing in their illegal war against Ukraine, and the Russia-installed puppet authorities in parts of Ukraine’s territory,” the State Department said.
“We are taking these steps in coordination with further sanctions being imposed by the Department of the Treasury today and additional export control measures announced by the Department of Commerce. The United States will continue to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes,” it said.
