Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is pushing for Russia to be classified as a state sponsor of terrorism in the wake of the tragic demise of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Navalny, who was widely regarded as one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s top adversaries, passed away in a high-security prison located near the Arctic Circle in Russia on Friday, as announced by the federal prison service. Although the prison service stated that he lost consciousness after a walk, there was immediate and extensive speculation about Putin’s involvement in Navalny’s demise. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were among those who expressed their suspicions. The spokesperson for Navalny confirmed on Saturday that he had indeed passed away.
During an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Graham expressed his admiration for Navalny’s courage, stating, “Navalny was one of the bravest people I ever met.” Graham further emphasized the dangers Navalny faced upon his return to Russia, asserting, “When he went back to Russia, he had to know he was going to be killed by Putin.” Graham firmly believes that Navalny’s untimely demise was a direct result of Putin’s actions, declaring, “He was murdered by Putin.”
The United States currently designates four countries as state sponsors of terrorism: Cuba, North Korea, Iran, and Syria. These countries face various sanctions, including limitations on foreign assistance and a prohibition on defense exports and sales.
According to Graham, legislation to include Russia on the list could be introduced as early as this week.
In a bold and direct statement, Senator Graham expressed his agreement with President Biden’s stance on holding Putin accountable for any harm that may befall Navalny. He firmly believes that the appropriate consequence for such actions should be Russia being designated as a state sponsor of terrorism.
Navalny, who is 47 years old, faced multiple instances of targeting in recent years. He endured imprisonment and poisoning, with a nerve agent being discovered “in and on” his body in 2020. This revelation caused an international outcry and prompted the Biden administration to impose new sanctions on Russia.
Navalny died just a month before the upcoming presidential election in Russia, a pivotal moment that would have potentially solidified Putin’s already long-standing control over the country.