Information
The Russian Foreign Ministry has formally demanded that Ukraine extradite the head of its Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Vasil Malyuk, along with others implicated in executing “terrorist attacks” on Russian soil. This demand comes amid accusations from Russia towards Ukraine for orchestrating a series of violent incidents within Russian territory since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022. The ministry’s statement underscores a specific call for the immediate arrest and extradition of individuals including Malyuk, who is alleged to have orchestrated the bombing of the Crimean Bridge in October 2022 and disclosed information regarding the organization of additional attacks in Russia.
Further emphasizing the accusations, the Russian Foreign Ministry linked the SBU and Ukraine to a mass shooting at a concert hall outside Moscow in late March, an incident for which an affiliate of the Islamic State claimed responsibility and resulted in the death of at least 140 individuals. In response to these extradition demands, the SBU dismissed them as “cynical” and “pointless,” especially coming from a country it labels as a “terrorist state” itself. This rebuttal also highlighted the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant issued against Russian President Vladimir Putin, relating to the transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia, suggesting that rather than fulfilling Russia’s extradition demands, the focus should be on Putin’s appearance before the tribunal in The Hague.
Source: AFP, Reuters
Assessment
This is clearly a ridiculous demand, disregarding the fact that IS is likely responsible for the attack. Ukraine and Russia are at war, so this demand is merely a show for the Russian people to further the Kremlin narrative of blaming Ukraine. Blaming Ukraine is likely the only way that the Kremlin can get the Russian public not directly to blame them for the failure. Furthermore, We will likely see this statement pushed across all Kremlin shills and politicians over the next few weeks.
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