House Security Advisor Michael Flynn as “Russophobic paranoia.”
Konstantin Kosachev, the head of the International Affairs
Committee in Federation Council, Russia’s upper house of parliament, said that Flynn’s departure
could be a sign that U.S. President Donald Trump was already “backed into a
corner.”
“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.
“Either Trump does not have the independence he needs
and has been cornered, or Russophobia has struck the new administration from the
top down,” the senator said.
departure on Twitter.
Flynn “resigned” not because of his little mistake
[with the Russian ambassador], but thanks to an aggressive campaign,” he wrote.
“’Russia’s on the way out!’ the press screeches. It’s nothing but paranoia
and a witch hunt.”
National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned Monday night following
allegations that he secretly discussed sanctions with Russia’s
ambassador to Washington before the Trump administration came to power.
repeatedly told the press that he had not talked about sanctions with
Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak prior to President Trump’s
inauguration, but then appeared to change his mind when confronted by the press.
his resignation letter, Flynn said that he had “inadvertently briefed
the Vice President-elect and others with incomplete information” on his
phone calls with Kislyak.
Flynn may have influenced Moscow’s foreign policy by urging Russian
diplomats not to “overreact” to sanctions placed on Moscow by the Obama
administration – arguably leading the Kremlin to believe that the
measures would soon be lifted under Trump.
The
Washington Post and The New York Times also both reported that Flynn
was in contact with Russian diplomats before Trump’s election in
November 2016. The U.S. administration and the Kremlin have both denied
making contact with each other during Trump’s campaign.
