Asked Wednesday about his dismal human rights record and the jailing of dissident Alexander Navalny, Russian president Vladimir Putin tried to turn the question around by raising the CIA’s enhanced interrogation program, the extrajudicial jailing of terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Black Lives Matter riots, and the rates of gun crime in American cities.
“People are shot and killed every day [in the U.S.]. You don’t have a chance to open your mouth and you’re shot dead,” Putin told reporters at a press conference following his bilateral meeting with President Biden.
Responding to a follow up question about Navalny, Putin suggested that the opposition leader and the organizations that support him are being “used” by the U.S. to “contain” Russia.
“The U.S. has declared Russia an enemy. My question is which political organizations are going to be supported by the U.S?” Putin asked, suggesting any pro-Democracy groups in his country are simply fronts for U.S. influence.
Putin then raised the Black Lives Matter demonstrations that occurred last summer, saying he “sympathizes” with the U.S. but doesn’t wish to see similar demonstrations in Russia, arguing that Navalny and his supporters wish to see such lawlessness in Russian streets.
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