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Russia issues arrest warrant for Lindsey Graham after Ukraine comments

The warrant was issued after a video released by Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office highlighted comments Graham made at a meeting Friday with the Ukrainian president.
Lindsey Graham during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on May 16, 2023.
Lindsey Graham during a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing May 16.Andrew Caballero-Reynolds / AFP - Getty Images file
/ Source: The Associated Press

MOSCOW — Russia’s Interior Ministry on Monday issued an arrest warrant for Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., following his comments related to the fighting in Ukraine.

In an edited video of his meeting Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that was released by Zelenskyy’s office, Graham said “the Russians are dying” and described the U.S. military assistance to the country as “the best money we’ve ever spent.”

While Graham appeared to have made the remarks in different parts of the conversation, the short video by Ukraine’s presidential office put them next to each other, causing outrage in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented Sunday by saying that “it’s hard to imagine a greater shame for the country than having such senators.””

The Investigative Committee, the country’s top criminal investigation agency, has moved to open a criminal inquiry against Graham, and the Interior Ministry followed up by issuing a warrant for his arrest as indicated Monday by its official record of wanted criminal suspects.

Graham is among more than 200 U.S. members of Congress whom Moscow banned last year from entering Russia.

Graham commented on Twitter, saying that “to know that my commitment to Ukraine has drawn the ire of Putin’s regime brings me immense joy.”

“I will continue to stand with and for Ukraine’s freedom until every Russian soldier is expelled from Ukrainian territory,” he tweeted. “I will wear the arrest warrant issued by Putin’s corrupt and immoral government as a Badge of Honor.”