Putin Whistleblower Assassinated In Ukraine

A former member of Russia's Duma who turned against Russian autocrat and kleptocratic thug Vladimir "Vlad the Invader" Putin was shot and killed by an assassin in Kiev, Ukraine this morning. Denis Voronenkov had sought asylum in Ukraine after standing up to Putin's corruption, and was testifying for Ukrainian investigators who are looking into Russia's role in the 2014 invasion of Crimea and its continuing troop presence in eastern Ukraine. Voronenkov was scheduled to join fellow Russian political exile Ilya Ponomaryov to give testimony to the Ukrainian Military Prosecutor's Office.

The Ukrainian government immediately denounced the killing as "an act of state terrorism" on the part of Russia, which has been systematically assassinating or otherwise silencing Putin's political opponents. In another chilling event, the lawyer for slain Russian whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky is in life-threatening condition in a Moscow hospital after "falling" from his 4th story window on Tuesday. Nikolai Gorokhov was scheduled to appear yesterday in court over a $250 million tax fraud case implicating Putin and his inner circle that his late client was killed for exposing in 2009.

This is the criminal head of state that neo-fascist buffoon and Putin admirer Donald "Rump" Trump wants to cuddle up to, after Putin interfered on his behalf in the 2016 elections. Sick and dangerous.

Sunday (Not So) Funnies

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Today's pre-ordained "referendum" in Crimea is potentially Russian mini-czar Vladimir Putin's first bite out of Ukraine, which he sees as within the Russian "sphere of influence," if not an actual part of Russia itself.

Dangerous days are ahead as the West decides how to deal with what has become a rogue state in Europe, and as Putin calculates the cost/benefits of his aggressive, expansionist policies.

UPDATE:  The Japan Times reports:

The Ukrainian and Russian Defence ministries have agreed on a truce in Crimea until March 21, Ukraine’s acting defence minister said Sunday. 

“An agreement has been reached with (Russia’s) Black Sea Fleet and the Russian Defence Ministry on a truce in Crimea until March 21,” Ihor Tenyukh told journalists on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting. “No measures will be taken against our military facilities in Crimea during that time. Our military sites are therefore proceeding with a replenishment of reserves.”

UPDATE II:  No surprise - exit polls showing big vote in favor of re-joining Russia.  Also - Stalin voted back into power with 99.9%.  Putin sure knows how to stage run an election!

(cartoon:  Tom Toles via gocomics.com)