Tata
22/08/2022

Tata
22/08/2022

Daughter of Putin’s Ally Killed in Moscow, Russia says Ukraine was Responsible

Since the war started in Ukraine, Putin and his close allies are arguably the most protected people on earth. However, the incident on Saturday suggested that associates of the Russian President might need to watch their steps more closely.

On Saturday, Russian TV commentator Daria Dugina was killed in a car bombing on the outskirts of Moscow. The 29-year-old was the daughter of Alexander Dugin, who is said to be close to Mr. Putin. Some have described the influential political theorist as the “brain” of the Russian President. Analysts believed that the 60-year-old was the target of the bombing that killed her daughter.

Like her father, Dugina supported the war in Ukraine, and they are close associates of the Russian President.

Darya Dugina died after a bomb detonated and destroyed the Toyota Land Cruiser she was traveling in late on Saturday.

“An explosive device was placed on the underside of the car on the driver’s side. Darya Dugina, who was behind the wheel, died at the scene. The investigation believes that the crime was planned in advance and was of a contractual nature,” Russia’s investigative committee said in a statement.

“It has now been established that the bomb in Dugina’s car was detonated remotely. Presumably, the car was monitored and its movement was controlled,” the law enforcement official, who was not named, told TASS, as reported by CNN.

Russia says Ukraine Responsible for Murder

In a time of war between Russia and Ukraine, the first suspect that comes to mind in a murder case like that of Darya Dugina is the government of Ukraine. As expected, the Russian government has accused Ukraine of killing the 29-year-old.

On Monday, the Russian Security service said a Ukrainian woman was responsible for the attack, and she had fled to Estonia after a successful operation.

“The murder of journalist Darya Dugina has been solved, it was prepared by the Ukrainian special services, by a citizen of Ukraine,” the TASS said on Monday.

In the same vein, Daryna’s father has also blamed Ukraine for the murder of her daughter.

Daryna’s Father Points Finger at Ukraine

Alexander Dugin, Daryna’s father, who witnessed the explosion, described her as a “rising star” who was killed by enemies of Russia.

Dugina was killed during an explosion “in front of my eyes” while “returning from the Tradition festival near Moscow,” he said in a statement.

“She was a beautiful Orthodox girl, a patriot, a military correspondent, an expert on central channels, and a philosopher. Her speeches and reporting have always been profound, grounded, and restrained. She never called for violence and war. She was a rising star at the beginning of her journey. The enemies of Russia meanly, stealthily killed her,” the statement added.

Mr. Dugin said the death of her daughter should not break the bones of Russians, and his heart yearns for more than “revenge or retribution.”

“But we, our people, cannot be broken even by such unbearable blows,” his statement continued. “Our hearts yearn for more than just revenge or retribution. It’s too small, not the Russian way. We only need our Victory. My daughter laid her maiden life on her altar. So win, please!”

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, also praised the 29-year-old, describing her as a patriot.

“A vile, cruel crime cut short the life of Daria Dugina, a bright, talented person with a real Russian heart – kind, loving, sympathetic, and open,” Putin said in a statement.

“A journalist, scientist, philosopher, war correspondent, she honestly served the people, the Fatherland, she proved by deed what it means to be a patriot of Russia,” he added.

Russia has already opened a criminal investigation on the murder of Daria, but the Estonian government has not confirmed any request from Russia regarding the movement of the suspect as reported by the TASS.

Mr. Dugin’s goal is to unite the Russian-speaking people to challenge Western powers. In 2014, he said: “Ukraine has to be either vanished from Earth and rebuilt from scratch or people need to get it. I think people in Ukraine need total revolt on all levels and in all regions. An armed revolt against the junta. Not only in the South-East.”

He was later sanctioned by the US. His late daughter was also sanctioned after the start of the war in Ukraine for misinformation.

‘Ukraine is not like Russia’

Despite accusations from Russia, Ukraine had denied any involvement in the death of the journalist. On Monday, the country’s Defense Intelligence said Ukraine’s National Guard was not involved in a car explosion that killed Darya.

“It is a fake that Ukraine is involved in this (killing of Darya Dugina). It is a fake that the National Guard of Ukraine is involved in these events. The National Guard is fulfilling its legal tasks at the territory of Ukraine,” Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, said in a statement.

Yusov did not end by a mere denial of his country’s involvement. He went on to say Russia could be responsible for Darya’s murder, as the journalist and her father were not people of interest to Ukraine.

“This looks more like sorting things out within Russia. Both Dugin and his daughter are marginal characters and not a point of interest to Ukraine,” the statement added.

Mykhailo Podolyak had said after the incident that Ukraine is not a terrorist state like Russia and was not responsible for the attack.

“Ukraine has absolutely nothing to do with this because we are not a criminal state like Russia or a terrorist one at that,” Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to President Zelensky, said on national television.

On Monday, Mr. Mykhailo tweeted that accusing Ukraine of the crime was fiction.

“Ru-propaganda lives in a fictional world: [Ukrainian] woman and her 12-year-old child were “assigned” responsible for blowing up the car of propagandist Dugina. Surprisingly, they did not find the “Estonian visa” on the spot. Vipers in [Russia] special services started an intraspecies fight,” he said.

There are fears in Ukraine that Russia could increase its attack on the country, and President Zelensky has said the country would not celebrate its independence anniversary for fears of the unknown from Russia.

Putin’s supporters are also calling for an intensified attack on Ukraine, including the bombardment of Kyiv after the death of Ms. Darya.

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