Top Russian officials slammed General Michael Flynn’s resignation on Tuesday morning as a sign of “russophobic paranoia” and aggressive campaigning by the American mainstream media.
Konstantin Kosachev, Russian diplomat and chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee has suggested that “Russophobia has struck the new administration from the top down.”
“Even willingness to engage in dialogue with the Russia is perceived by the hawks in Washington as thoughtcrime (in the words of immortal George Orwell),” Kosachev wrote on Facebook.
“The fact that top national security adviser was forced to resign because of his contact with the Russian ambassador (a regular diplomatic practice) is even worse than paranoia,” his post read.
Alexey Pushkov, a senator and member of the Defense and Security Committee also expressed his criticism about Flynn’s departure, blaming it on the anti-Russian campaign.
“Flynn ‘resigned’ not because of his alleged mistake [with the Russian ambassador], but thanks to an aggressive campaign,” he wrote. “‘Russia’s on the way out!’ the press writes. It’s nothing but paranoia and a witch hunt.”
The target is not Flynn, but rather relations with Russia, Pushkov claims.
Leonid Slutsky, a member of the State Duma of Russia suggested that Flynn’s resignation is nothing but a provocation, Russian media agency TASS reported. “Let’s not rush with conclusions. It might be a provocation, but he might come back soon and be part of Trump’s administration again,” he told journalists.
In the meantime the Kremlin declined to comment “in any way”. Putin’s spokesperson said: “This is a domestic issue of the Americans and the Trump administration, not ours.”
Michael Flynn, Trump’s national security advisor, resigned on Monday night following allegations that he discussed Russian sanctions with Russian ambassador to Washington prior to Trump’s inauguration.
General Flynn has initially denied the allegations but then seemed to admit that he didn’t provide full information about his call with the Russian ambassador. In his resignation letter he said: “inadvertently briefed the Vice President Elect and others with the incomplete information” about the calls.
