Putin's aide warns US against pressing for war crimes court
MOSCOW (AP) - A top Russian official warned the U.S. Wednesday that it could face the 'œwrath of God'ť if it pursues efforts to help establish an international tribunal to investigate Russia's action in Ukraine.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy secretary of Russia's Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, denounced the U.S. for what he described as its efforts to 'œspread chaos and destruction across the world for the sake of 'true democracy.'"
'œThe entire U.S. history since the times of subjugation of the native Indian population represents a series of bloody wars,'ť Medvedev charged in a long diatribe on his Telegram channel, pointing out the U.S. nuclear bombing of Japan during World War II and the war in Vietnam. 'œWas anyone held responsible for those crimes? What tribunal condemned the sea of blood spilled by the U.S. there?'ť
Responding to the U.S.-backed calls for an international tribunal to prosecute the perceived war crimes by Russia in Ukraine, Medvedev rejected it as an attempt by the U.S. 'œto judge others while staying immune from any trial.'ť
'œIt won't work with Russia, they know it well,'ť Medvedev concluded. 'œThat's why the rotten dogs of war are barking in such a disgusting way."
"The U.S. and its useless stooges should remember the words of the Bible: Do not judge and you will not be judged ... so that the great day of His wrath doesn't come to their home one day,'ť Medvedev said, referring to the Apocalypse.
The warning follows a series of tough statements from Putin and his officials that pointed at the Russian nuclear arsenals to warn the West against interfering with Moscow's action in Ukraine.
Medvedev, who served as Russia's president in 2008-2012 when Putin shifted into the prime minister's post due to term limits, was widely seen by the West as more liberal compared with his mentor. In recent months, however, he has made statements that have sounded much tougher than those issued by the most hawkish Kremlin officials.