The United States should “redirect” its efforts toward investigating the criminal sex ring allegations against rapper Diddy instead of seeking to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, Moscow’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said in an interview.
Maria Zakharova’s remarks came in response to bombshell federal U.S. racketeering and sex trafficking charges as well as a massive class-action lawsuit against Diddy, whose real name is Sean Combs.
“Perhaps the U.S. should step away from global issues for a second, forget about Russia, forget about the [International Criminal Court] and for once redirect all of its resources and all of its pompous exceptionalism towards themselves,” Zakharova told the Kremlin-funded broadcaster RT.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant for President Vladimir Putin in March 2023 for the unlawful deportations of Ukrainian children to Russia during the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. is not a signatory to the court’s founding statute.
Moscow, which has been accused of deploying hybrid warfare tools against its adversaries in the West, has repeatedly railed against U.S. military aid to Ukraine and its far-reaching sanctions on Russia.
In a conspiracy-laden remark, Zakharova sought to implicate Washington’s political establishment in the Diddy sex scandal, arguing that it made the White House look “hypocritical” to countries like Russia and China.
“It was a coordinated operation, something like a mafia structure, that brought together people from show business, politics and government. They covered for each other [and] exchanged services,” Zakharova claimed without providing evidence.
“The police couldn’t have been unaware, the FBI must have known, the White House too — everyone knew,” she added.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Continue
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.
×
Remind me next month
Thank you! Your reminder is set.
