Russia’s Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for US Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) after criticizing the Putin regime and praising US military assistance to Ukraine during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on May 30, 2023. Graham responded defiantly by challenging Russia to submit to the International Criminal Court. He also said he would wear the arrest warrant as a badge of honor. Here are the facts.
1. The Warrant: When Russia Said “Enough!”
In a move that shocked the political world, Russia’s Interior Ministry issued an arrest warrant for US Senator Lindsey Graham. The reason? Graham, known for his straight talk, praised US military assistance to Ukraine and criticized the Putin regime. His comments came during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Russia’s response was swift, but Lindsey Graham’s Russian “wanted” poster doesn’t specify his crimes.
2. The Video: The Proof is in the Pudding
Zelenskyy’s office released an edited video of the meeting. In it, after repeating the motto “freedom or death,” Graham noted that “the Russians are dying” and described US military assistance to Ukraine as “the best money we’ve ever spent.” The video caused outrage in Russia, leading to the arrest warrant. In the longer version, Graham also said, “This is the 457th day of a war that was supposed to last three days. You amaze me, your country amazes me.”
3. The Backlash: When the Kremlin Bites Back
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov didn’t hold back in his criticism of Graham’s comments: “It’s hard to imagine a greater shame for the country than having such senators.” Russia’s Investigative Committee, the country’s top criminal investigation agency, has moved to open a criminal inquiry against Graham.
4. The Response: Badge of Honor
Graham, a leading Senate foreign policy hawk and staunch supporter of strong US support for Ukraine, responded to the arrest warrant on Twitter. He stated he would wear it as a “Badge of Honor.” He even offered to submit to the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction if Russia did the same. The ICC is where Putin faces a warrant for forced child transfers from Ukraine.
5. The Fallout: From Bad to Worse
Graham sparked anger in Moscow last year after calling for Putin’s assassination as the only way to stop the Ukraine invasion. It seems like Graham’s comments have finally landed him on Russia’s naughty list.
News Trivia Quiz Time
Now that you know all the facts about Lindsey Graham’s Russian Arrest Warrant, how about a news quiz?
Sources
We cross-checked our facts about Lindsey Graham’s Russian Arrest Warrant with the world’s leading news providers. Here are the news stories we read for this post.
- BBC News: Lindsey Graham’s Russian Clash: Russia issues arrest warrant for top Republican
- CBS News: Russia issues arrest warrant for Sen. Lindsey Graham
- POLITICO: Lindsey Graham responds defiantly to arrest warrant from Russia
We Stand with Ukraine
It seems everybody these days has publicly declared their position on the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine. We stand with Ukraine and its people, fighting against military forces attacking civilians. We salute Ukraine’s heroic battle for democracy as we stand with every nation fighting against tyranny and for human rights. Our empathy extends to the Russian people, Belarusians, and all who suffer under oppressive governments, including soldiers forced to die in the name of their leaders. We also side with the truth, so here’s a quick list of reliable sources on the conflict.
