Following President Joe Biden’s statement that he would question Russian President Vladimir Putin on human rights at an upcoming summit, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused the US of “persecution” of Trump supporters who invaded the Capitol on January 6.
During a press conference on Monday, Lavrov stated that Russia is “ready to talk” and that there will be “no taboo topics” at the June 16 summit between the two presidents. Lavrov stated that this includes human rights, but then swiftly flipped the script, claiming that Russia is “following with interest” the “persecution” of those “accused of the riots on January 6.”
“We are ready to talk, we have no taboo topics. We will discuss whatever we think is necessary. We will be ready to answer the questions that the American side will raise. This also applies to human rights,” said Lavrov. “For example, we are following with interest the persecution of those persons who are accused of the riots on January 6 this year” in Washington DC.
Lavrov compared the DOJ’s attempt to prosecute the rioters to the arrest of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and his supporters, referring to the Jan. 6 issue as “the opposition’s rights and protecting those rights.”
At the meeting, diplomats are hoping to improve tense relations between Moscow and Washington, DC. Russia is suspected of being behind a series of cyberattacks against US government computer networks and assistance organisations, according to US intelligence officials. These allegations are denied by Moscow.
“I’m meeting with President Putin in a couple weeks in Geneva, making it clear we will not stand by and let him abuse those rights,” Biden said.
Russia also warned that it would send “uncomfortable” messages to the US ahead of a summit between the two countries’ leaders next month, as well as militarise its western border. “The Americans must assume that a number of signals from Moscow… will be uncomfortable for them, notably in the coming days,” Russia’s deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov told the RIA news agency.
Relations between the two countries have been at an all-time low since the conclusion of the Cold War, and the meeting next month will be Biden’s first since taking office in January. Russia’s relations with the US and its Western allies are strained on a number of issues, including the detention of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny, Ukraine, the Arctic, and allegations of election hacking.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Putin, warned last week against expecting a “reset” following the Geneva meeting, claiming that the differences between Moscow and Washington are too deep. Similarly, the White House has downplayed expectations for the meeting, claiming that no major breakthroughs are expected.
President Joe Biden and his Democratic government have increased sanctions against Russia, resulting in more diplomatic tensions. Biden has attempted to insinuate tensions with Russia over Ukraine and Belarus, even calling Russian President Vladimir Putin a “killer” on national television. The next summit will be the first between the two Presidents, and Russia has already delivered foreboding signals that it will not make things easy for Trump. By hitting out at the “blatant persecution” of American citizens, Russia has warned Biden that it will retaliate on any issue the United States throws at them.