Further proof, if it was needed, but we have been reminded how rotten and toxic is the current regime in Moscow.
Literally toxic in the case of the death of Alexei Navalny who died two years ago this week in a hellhole Siberian prison.
Change that. Who was murdered.
A group of European governments, based on study of obtained biological material, has concluded that Navalny's life was ended by the administration of a toxin secreted by a species of frog, specifically a Dart frog.
This creature is not found in Siberia, or anywhere in Russia.
It is native to Ecuador.
Even before this new finding few in the world would be of the view that Navalny's passing in a Siberian penal colony was as a result of natural causes - unless they have reached the point of accepting that murder in today's Russia actually amounts to a natural cause.
Micheál Martin, then serving as Tánaiste, said he was “deeply shocked" by Alexei Navalny’s death, which occurred on February 16, 2024.
"His death underpins the lack of respect for the rule of law and protection of human rights in Russia, and is a reminder of the repressive nature of the regime against its own people,”
Martin said in a statement at the time. Martin might have been shocked, but not entirely surprised.
Stated then President Michael D. Higgins: "The freedom to express dissenting views, be it on the structure or administration of society, is a fundamental tenet of a democracy and any accountable system.
The incarceration of Alexei Navalny contradicted this.
"It is important that all of those who believe in these principles support the making available of all of the facts surrounding Alexei Navalny's death."
President Biden at the time was more blunt, stating in part: "He (Navalny) bravely stood up to the corruption, the violence, and all the bad things that the Putin government was doing.
"In response, Putin had him poisoned.
He had him arrested. He had him prosecuted for fabricated crimes.
He sentenced him to prison. He was held in isolation.
Even all that didn’t stop him from calling out Putin’s lies....Russian authorities are going to tell their own story.
But make no mistake, Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death.
Putin is responsible. "What has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putin’s brutality.
No one should be fooled, not in Russia, not at home, not anywhere in the world.
Putin does not only target the citizens of other countries, as we’ve seen what’s going on in Ukraine right now, he also inflicts terrible crimes on his own people."
So here we are.
Frog toxin administered by curs and cowards.
It's actually incredible to think given Ukraine, Navalny, and all the rest that there are Russian ambassadors still enjoying the delights of European capital postings.
That would include Dublin.
Whatever you call it don't call it the presence of bona fide diplomats, or the exercise of actual diplomacy.
What a joke.
