Russian spy: State TV anchor warns 'traitors'

[Deleted]

Not at all damning

For days, Russia's main national TV channels were practically silent on the attempt to kill former spy Sergei Skripal with a nerve agent, but this changed in Wednesday's main evening bulletins.

The comment by Kirill Kleimenov - the presenter on government-controlled Channel One's flagship Vremya news programme - sounded like a veiled, mocking threat to anyone considering becoming a double agent for Britain.

"I don't wish death on anyone, but for purely educational purposes, I have a warning for anyone who dreams of such a career," he said.

"The profession of a traitor is one of the most dangerous in the world," Kleimenov said, adding that few who had chosen it had lived to a ripe old age.

Alcoholism, drug addiction, stress and depression resulting in heart attacks and even suicide were the "professional illnesses of a traitor", according to Kleimenov.

'Maybe it's the climate'
He also had a second piece of advice for such "traitors or those who simply hate their country in their free time": "Don't choose Britain as a place to live."

"Something is wrong there. Maybe it's the climate, but in recent years there have been too many strange incidents with grave outcomes there."

The remarks stood out from the rest of the evening's coverage, which followed the line often taken by Russian state media in similar circumstances - denial and wry bemusement that anyone should be pointing the finger at Russia.

On NTV - ultimately controlled by state gas company Gazprom - a presenter said the Western media were accusing Russia of poisoning Mr Skripal despite the lack of any evidence or any "expert conclusions".

Its London correspondent, Liza Gerson, mentioned the role of the UK's Porton Down research facility in the investigation, pointing out that it tested chemicals used against German soldiers in World War One.

She also took a swipe at Boris Johnson's warning to Russia this week, saying the foreign secretary was known for his "unpredictable antics" and was "an infant in a man's suit".

Over on state channel Rossiya 1, the presenter said the British authorities "didn't even try" to seek Russia's co-operation in the investigation, "but have already discovered a Russian trace in the case"

'Anti-Russian hysteria'
Before the leading TV channels picked up the story, it had been widely covered by newspapers, news websites and niche liberal outlets such as Dozhd TV and Ekho Moskvy radio, as well as the relatively little-watched state news channel Rossiya 24.

"The British media continue to fan anti-Russian hysteria," one Rossiya 24 report said, adding that attempts to find a "Kremlin trace" were based "not on facts, but purely on rumours and fabrication".

The channel's UK correspondent reported the "interesting detail" that Britain's "secret" Porton Down facility manufactures the VX and sarin nerve agents, as well as other "UK weapons of mass destruction".

News websites widely reported remarks by Andrei Lugovoi - a suspect in the killing of former Russian security officer Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006 - dismissing talk of a "Russian trace".

"The English suffer from phobias," Mr Lugovoi - now a member of the Russian parliament - told the RIA Novosti news agency.

Dozhd TV's take was entirely different from the state media. Here, a presenter said that the discovery that Mr Skripal was poisoned by a nerve agent means "Russia is in for a high-profile criminal investigation".

[BadguyNotBadGuy]

Im still really surprised people have a shocked reaction when ex spies who know buncha shit and possible are trading that info to another country get killed. Like cmon folks, the ruskies just do it more publicly

[Mikah]

I am very curious as to whether someone in Russia actually believe that their state is not involved.

I find it similar to when the US were flying U2 spy planes above Russia until one was shot down. Everybody knew it was the US, but they just denied it because Russians did not have any hard evidence.

[Machismo]

Well, you have a keyword in the title, so it's just a matter of time before certain people with their "ctrl-F scripts" join in.

Yeah, it's not exactly a surprise that the Putin regime opted to assassinate another political enemy. es, he is a political enemy.

[XDurionX]

Well, murdering spies in Britain always goes unpunished.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43299598

[Deleted]

I am very curious as to whether someone in Russia actually believe that their state is not involved.

We already have members here doing it

[Shynra]

I wonder why Russia has spokespeople at all anymore. They should just create a sign that says 'whatever it is, we didn't do it' and project it whenever necessary.

[Deleted]

Im still really surprised people have a shocked reaction when ex spies who know buncha shit and possible are trading that info to another country get killed. Like cmon folks, the ruskies just do it more publicly

What info? Any info he had was prior to getting caught. and he spent years in russian jail AFTER, did he find something new info in jail looool that warranted his death??

Warning is to traitors not to trust west, thinking west won't betray you, they will.

Right before election, not at all bad timing for putin n good timing for MI6 in an anti-Russian anti-Putin move?

Btw there is already a thread on this subject. Where you can all believe ur tabloid-like msm "news"

[Independent voter]

Putin has his eyes on you.

[zorkuus]

So a TV channel basically issuing death threats.

[Uncle]

Russia should be more careful about it's ass, one day, the west will have enough and steamroll that garbage country in three days.

[Thelxi]

Well if you are a Russian that decides to betray Russia to such a degree, maybe don't have kids. I'm the first to caution people against Putin, but acting surprised they would assassinate a military traitor is a bit.. weird. This is Russia after all. It's unfortunate a daughter was mixed up.

[Deleted]

Oh noes, some TV anchor joked about traitor getting killed. Stop the press! Seriously, this piece of BBC "journalism" smells of political order. Can't they find something better than some anchor at one of Russian TV stations talking trash?

Quality of this article matches clickbait fake news. BBC has barely any journalistic integrity left. Political propaganda and spreading rumors 24/7.

P.S. before anyone quotes this saying that some people deny obvious, use your brain. I'm not denying obvious, I'm simply pointing out that someone not in loop on anything talking trash is not news worthy even by lowest journalism standards.

[Deleted]

Oh noes, some TV anchor joked about traitor getting killed. Stop the press! Seriously, this piece of BBC "journalism" smells of political order. Can't they find something better than some anchor at one of Russian TV stations talking trash?

Quality of this article matches clickbait fake news. BBC has barely any journalistic integrity left. Political propaganda and spreading rumors 24/7.

P.S. before anyone quotes this saying that some people deny obvious, use your brain. I'm not denying obvious, I'm simply pointing out that someone not in loop on anything talking trash is not news worthy even by lowest journalism standards.

government-controlled Channel One's flagship Vremya news

[Deleted]

government-controlled Channel One's flagship Vremya news

So? It might be a surprise for you, BBC is also government controlled. Does it mean anything BBC news anchors say is truth and they have some inside sources? Nope. Its exactly the same situation - they push official government narrative. That's all there is to it.

Anchors, like everyone else, have their own opinions and commentary. Any discussion that is not based on facts should be ignored as just that - pointless discussion.

In this case for BBC agenda is to push anything they can find that puts Russia in bad light, even if its conspiracy theory level of "news" putting things out of context and exaggerating things out of proportion because they have nothing else to go on.

BBC and Russian TV1 are the same. No journalistic integrity, just pushing government line. They don't have inside sources, so anything said by them should be taken with a lot of salt.

[Deleted]

Putin's long arm reaches all over the world and there is little to nothing anyone can do about it.

You got to wonder what these former/double spies are thinking though, do they really think they are safe in the UK?
This guy isnt the first one they killed there and certainly not the last.

[Sorshen]

So? It might be a surprise for you, BBC is also government controlled. Does it mean anything BBC news anchors say is truth and they have some inside sources? Nope. Its exactly the same situation - they push official government narrative. That's all there is to it.

Anchors, like everyone else, have their own opinions and commentary. Any discussion that is not based on facts should be ignored as just that - pointless discussion.

In this case for BBC agenda is to push anything they can find that puts Russia in bad light, even if its conspiracy theory level of "news" putting things out of context and exaggerating things out of proportion because they have nothing else to go on.

BBC and Russian TV1 are the same. No journalistic integrity, just pushing government line. They don't have inside sources, so anything said by them should be taken with a lot of salt.

I don't see BBC condoning assassinations tho?

[Kaleredar]

Putin's long arm reaches all over the world and there is little to nothing anyone can do about it.

You got to wonder what these former/double spies are thinking though, do they really think they are safe in the UK?
This guy isnt the first one they killed there and certainly not the last.

Well seeing as they became spies knowing they'd be putting their life on the line and STILL willingly give over information knowing they could die for it... Means they must have pretty strong opinions against Russia.

[Deleted]

Really not sure how this is important news. The US has been killing its own citizens since the beginning of their time. So has Europe or any other major power with a spy network.

Really don't see whats the point in this? Just a bit of Russia bashing? Or we blaming it on Trump again today?

[Player Twelve]

Not surprising, they want to get rid of any dissidents and those who might have given up information.