Ukraine says it gunned down a high-profile 'traitor' near Moscow
NBCDec 01, 2023
Ukraine Reportedly Assassinates Two Pro-Russia Officials
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Image copyright: Pierre Crom/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
A former Ukrainian lawmaker who fled to Russia shortly before Moscow's invasion was found dead on the outskirts of the Russian capital on Wednesday. Illia Kyva, 46, was found with a gunshot wound to the head, Russia's Investigative Committee said.
A day before Russia invaded Ukraine in Feb. 2022, Kyva said his home country had been "soaked by Nazism" and needed "liberating" by Moscow. Last month, during proceedings that were held in absentia, a Ukrainian court sentenced him to 14 years in prison for charges including treason and incitement to violence.
The Spin
Pro-Ukraine narrative
Illia Kyva was an infamous traitor to Ukraine, not only defecting to Russia but even calling for the invasion. Such treason cannot be accepted in war time and all who collaborate with Russia will meet the same fate.
Pro-Russia narrative
This brazen assassination conducted by Ukrainian intelligence was nothing short of state-sponsored terrorism. These types of actions need to be condemned by the international community. Action has to be taken to prevent these types of attacks from happening again.
Establishment-critical narrative
Under the standards of international law on war, committing assassinations is widely considered a war crime. Ukraine's role in a number of suspected assassinations is clearly beyond the scope of the law and should be condemned.
