- 27 Mar 2018 17:25
#14900234
The Russians exchanged him for some of their spies who had been caught by the West. He was thus useful to them alive. Their judgement of what message needs to be sent to people who might work for a foreign power can change with circumstances - what their relationship with other countries is (which has been affected by a lot since the spy exchange - their invasion of Crimea, their support for the Ukraine rebels, the shooting down of the Malaysian airliner, Trump in the White House ...), and the power of any factions inside Russia.
But if you think Russia had no motive to kill him, then you have to think no one did. Because if you can say "Russia obviously has no motive", then there'd be no "international scandal", because no one would be blaming Russia.
Right before an election? Well, it's one way to send a message to any troublemakers who might question the way the election is held.
Message sent.
Prosthetic Conscience wrote:because they are the only state with anything to gain from the murder - intimidation of Russians who might oppose Putin.
Balancer wrote:You need to have completely brainwashed propaganda to believe in such nonsense. What prevented Putin from killing this defector before? At least in the Russian prison? What made him kill this defector right before the election? The desire to provoke an international scandal in the most critical moments? Putin is an idiot, do you think?
The Russians exchanged him for some of their spies who had been caught by the West. He was thus useful to them alive. Their judgement of what message needs to be sent to people who might work for a foreign power can change with circumstances - what their relationship with other countries is (which has been affected by a lot since the spy exchange - their invasion of Crimea, their support for the Ukraine rebels, the shooting down of the Malaysian airliner, Trump in the White House ...), and the power of any factions inside Russia.
But if you think Russia had no motive to kill him, then you have to think no one did. Because if you can say "Russia obviously has no motive", then there'd be no "international scandal", because no one would be blaming Russia.
Right before an election? Well, it's one way to send a message to any troublemakers who might question the way the election is held.
A newsreader on Russian state television has presented a story on the poisoning of a former Russian spy, with a warning to anyone considering becoming a double agent.
During the news programme, Kirill Kleimenov said he wanted anyone "who dreams of such a career" to be aware that traitors rarely live a long and peaceful life.
Kleimenov, of government-controlled Channel One, also advised them: ''Don't choose Britain as a place to live."
http://www.euronews.com/2018/03/09/russ ... in-britain
Message sent.