Russia places Zelensky on its wanted list

– Russia issues wanted notice against Volodymyr Zelensky

The Ukrainian president is now part of the “wanted persons” list established by Russia, according to a notice published this Saturday.

Published today at 3:50 p.m.

As part of the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is particularly targeted by Russian officials (illustrative photo)

AFP/UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE

Russia has launched a wanted notice against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, without making public its motive, according to a notice visible Saturday on the website of the Ministry of the Interior.

The leader is wanted “under an article of the Penal Code”, we can read in this short text, which says nothing else about the nature of these accusations. Since February 2022, Russia has been leading an offensive against Ukraine, which it presents in particular as a fight against a “Nazi” power.

Volodymyr Zelensky is particularly targeted by Russian officials. The day after the launch of his assault, President Vladimir Putin called on the Ukrainian army to overthrow him.

The list of people wanted by Russia is very extensive and includes Russian or foreign personalities, particularly Ukrainians. In February, the name of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas was added along with those of other officials from the Baltic countries.

To justify this decision, the Kremlin invoked the opposing vision of history held by Moscow and these states. The Baltic States, which fear the military ambitions of the Kremlin, consider that the USSR occupied them, while Moscow sees itself as a liberator and judges any other approach as a “falsification of History”, a crime in Russia.