Dmitry Medvedev Photo: Alexei Maishev / TASS
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has threatened the editorial board of the British newspaper The Times after the publication of an article calling the targeted killing of Russian Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov “legal”. This was reported by the independent publication The Moscow Times.
In an editorial published on Tuesday, The Times said that Kirillov’s elimination in the Moscow bombing was “a legitimate act of self-defence for a nation under threat”.
Medvedev’s threats
In response to this publication, Medvedev posted an angry message on his Telegram channel, calling the authors of the article “miserable jackals” and warning them:
“Be careful! There’s a lot going on in London.”
This statement was perceived as a hint of possible acts of violence, similar to the poisoning of former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.
Russia’s reaction to the assassination of General Kirillov
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who headed Russia’s nuclear, biological and chemical defence forces, was killed in Moscow by a bomb planted on an electric scooter. His assistant was also killed in the incident. Russian authorities classified the incident as a terrorist attack.
Ukrainian sources confirmed his involvement in the operation, calling Kirillov a war criminal who ordered the use of banned chemical weapons against the Ukrainian military.
Medvedev and the rhetoric of threats
Medvedev, who served as Russian president from 2008 to 2012, has recently become known for making radical statements, mostly directed at the West, in the context of the war in Ukraine. This time, he also hinted that NATO representatives who are assisting Ukraine are “legitimate military targets” for Russia.
Medvedev’s statement is yet another example of an escalation in aggressive rhetoric by Russian officials, raising concerns about the safety of journalists and freedom of expression. The threats against The Times also reflect the growing tensions between Russia and the West.
The Times has not yet commented on Medvedev’s statements.
