Russia’s Foreign Ministry protested to the US ambassador in Moscow on Saturday over remarks by US Senator Lindsey Graham advocating that President Vladimir Putin be assassinated.
It said in a statement that failure to unambiguously condemn the remarks and take concrete measures “will have a further devastating effect on Russian-American relations,” already in tatters following Western sanctions against Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
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US Ambassador John Sullivan was summoned to the ministry to be told that Graham’s comment would be treated as a serious crime in Russia.
“This is a public, terrorist appeal that is completely unacceptable,” the ministry said.
Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, called on Twitter for someone in Russia to “take this guy out” – referring to Putin.
White House spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters on Friday: “We are not advocating for killing the leader of a foreign country or regime change. That is not the policy of the United States.”
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‘Take this guy out’: US senator Graham calls for Putin’s assassination
