According to the Post Millennial, Lira was arrested by Ukrainian security in May 2023 after he was reportedly critical of President Vladimir Zelensky’s handling of the war being fought against Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine.
Lira’s comments included claims that Ukraine’s efforts to win the captured territory back have gone nowhere and their people are dying for a war that is already lost.
Describing him as a “journalist” is an Elastigirl-level stretch.
I haven’t seen any indication that he did anything other than post wildly and transparently wrong pro-Russian claims about the war. E.g., quoting from the DB article, that Ukraine “deliberately tried to have a nuclear accident” to pin it on Russia and possibly drag America into his war, or that the Russian invasion was “one of the most brilliant invasions in military history.”
If that’s really all he did, then it’s hard for me to say that he deserved to die in prison for it. But maybe someone inside a country where around 200,000 people have been killed or wounded by the invasion might feel differently. Also, why is this article being so dishonest about what it was he said that got him in trouble?
Lira’s comments included claims that Ukraine’s efforts to win the captured territory back have gone nowhere and their people are dying for a war that is already lost.
See above.
According to the BBC, which spoke to a Ukrainian soldier on the frontlines in December, Lira’s comments appear to have contained some truth, as Russian forces have repelled numerous Ukrainian counter-offensive attempts, which have depleted large portions of their experienced fighting force. The soldier stated the troops feel left behind at this point, saying, “No one knows the goals. Many believe that the command simply abandoned us. The guys believe that our presence has more political than military significance. But we just did our job and didn’t get into strategy.”
The BBC reported that the Ukrainian force’s ability to man the frontlines could soon end as over 20,000 men have fled Ukraine since the start of the war, which has led Ukraine to only secure small victories in recent months, which included the recapture of small pieces of territory that were strategically abandoned by Russian forces.
Why is this in the article about Lira? If the article is Russian (or, anti-Ukrainian at least) propaganda, then it makes perfect sense to include these paragraphs. I’m a little hard-pressed for any other reason it would be here.
Why do you think? The US and GB are looking for any excuse to cut funding to Ukraine, because it can actually be won. Better then to let the conflict continue for many decades. There’s more money to be made in the long run. So you gotta spin a little yarn, include some unnecessary details, gesture mildly at “possible interpretations”.
The US and GB are looking for any excuse to cut funding to Ukraine
The UK has just dumped another £2.5 billion into zelenskys coffers
Yeah, FYI, he was given every opportunity to leave, and was kicked out at one point, but chose to return. He was shilling for an invading foreign power, and deliberately chose to continue despite being given every warning and chance there is. Calling his arrest unfair is some impressive mental gymnastics. So is calling him a journalist.
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I never said that. I especially did not call him a journalist. What I did say was that his arrest was justified, contrary to what some others claim in this comment section.
He should not have died, that part we can probably agree on. I’m looking forward to more info on the circumstances of his death.
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I still fail to see which “journalists” you are talking about.
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Be obnoxious asshole that does not contribute anything
“Hey I’m a journalist, you can’t touch me. Just like the bad guy from Lethal Weapon 2, I got diplomatic immunity!”
Meanwhile, the Z gang is shooting at actual journalists, but that’s ok because they are on your side. They shouldn’t have come to an active war zone. Oh sorry, special military operation zone.
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He was arrested as he was planning to leave. There was a video he had made right before he was arrested at the border on his way out on his bike. There is a video of it out there somewhere.
Not defending him, did not watch much of him aside a couple of clips. So, I cannot really opinionate either way.
I may not be a fan of his work, but it always sucks to have a journalist die because of corruption and unfair imprisonment.
