Murayev threatens UK with legal action over claims he would lead a Putin puppet regime in Ukraine
Pro-Russian Ukrainian former MP and head of the NASHI party Yevhen Murayev is ready to sue the UK government over claims he earlier dismissed as fake news, Murayev told UK newspaper the Independent, referring to allegations published by the UK foreign office that Murayev would lead a Russian-installed puppet government in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Murayev said he had received numerous threats over “the absurd and dangerous fantasy” circulated by the UK foreign office. The politician also asked the UK authorities to present evidence of their allegations.
“A few things remain unclear to me. Will I still be sanctioned by Russia if I were to head the puppet government in Kyiv?” said Murayev.
“Will I meet Mr. Putin, who I have never met before? Will I be arrested if I go to Moscow while I am still under sanctions?”
Murayev stated he was ready to visit London for any court proceedings, if required.
“All I can think is that the UK foreign office received fake information from certain sources in Ukraine and did not cross-check it properly,” added Murayev, saying he believes that he’s been roped into a geopolitical stand-off between the United States, the UK, NATO and Russia.
The UK foreign office also alleged that Russia had been working with a number of former officials from the former government of fugitive Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, such as former Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, former Deputy Prime Minister Mykola Arbuzov, former First Deputy Prime Minister Andriy Klyuev, and former head of Ukraine’s SBU security service, Volodymyr Syvkovych. All four are former Yanukovych insiders, and are currently in exile in Russia and under international sanctions.
The U.S. cable television news channel CNN reported that U.S. intelligence sources had confirmed the UK’s allegations. The Russian Foreign Ministry called these reports “disinformation and provocative activity.”
Murayev also dismissed the UK claims as “nonsense,” pointing to the fact that he was sanctioned by Russia and banned from going there.
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