Senator Lindsey Graham argued it is time to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism in the wake of opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s death.
Graham said Navalny knew he would be killed by Putin for returning to Russia, asserting that Putin murdered him.
Sen. Lindsey Graham said, “As to what happened in Russia with Navalny was one of the bravest people I have ever met. When he went back to Russia, he had to know he was going to be killed by Putin. And he was murdered by Putin.”
“So what- why don’t we do this? I just got off the phone with two Democratic senators. Let’s make Russia a state sponsor of terrorism under U.S. law. Let’s make them pay a price for killing Navalny. It would allow the Navalny family to go to U.S. court and sue Putin’s Russia for killing of their loved one. A state sponsored terrorism designation is a game changer. It would allow more sanctions, it would open up the American courtroom. I’ve been pushing on this for a year,” he continued.
As a result, Graham said he had discussed with two Democratic senators legislation to make Russia a state sponsor of terrorism under US law, similarly to Iran, Cuba and North Korea.
He believes this designation is needed to allow Navalny’s family to sue Putin’s Russia in US courts for his death and impose further sanctions on Russia.
Graham has pushed for this designation for a year, saying Putin has been killing opponents for decades and deserves the consequences of such a change in status.
CBS’s Robert Costa asked, “Do you expect legislation on that this week?”
Sen. Graham replied, “Yes, absolutely. President Biden told Putin if something happens to Navalny, you’re going to pay a price. President Biden, I agree with you. The price they should pay is to make Russia a state sponsor of terrorism like Iran, Cuba and North Korea.”
Graham added, “They deserve this designation. Putin’s been killing people, opposition leaders, for decades now. He’s dismembered Syria. He’s one of the world’s worst actors.”
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