US authorities said the Twitter post by the leader of Russian communists in which he harshly commented on the US ambassador’s death at the hands of rioting mob in Libya would not be left without consequences.
Earlier this week Gennady Zyuganov, leader of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF), said in his official Twitter feed that the US ambassador to Libya was “shot like a dog”, adding that the diplomat had reaped what he had sown.
Officials in the United States expressed outrage over the comment and also said they were surprised by it, as Zyuganov has previously maintained close contacts with the US Embassy in Moscow.
Russia’s business daily Kommersant quoted a source in the US State Department as saying that there were a number of reciprocal measures that would demonstrate by example its attitude to such statements.
A source in President Obama’s administration told the newspaper that it was unlikely that Zyuganov would manage to maintain his previous warm relations with the US embassy, but there would be no public announcements for the time being.
However, Zyuganov must expect the reaction will be harsh in the extreme after the November presidential poll, the sources stated, adding that this will happen regardless of who wins the elections.
Initially, Gennady Zyuganov’s aides told the press that the Twitter account was maintained by a certain member of the press service, who claimed that he only typed his boss’s speech, word for word.
After the story broke in the conventional press, Zyuganov personally issued a comment claiming that his words had been taken out of context and distorted by the press service. He said that the actual comment was much longer and more than 10 people heard it, but the press service compressed it to just two or three phrases.
The Communist leader then went on to express his real stance on the present events in the world. He told reporters that the interference of the NATO member states in the internal affairs of other countries has recently put the world on the brink of a major war and that “all North Africa, Middle East, Syria have turned into a bloody mess.”
He said that no normal person would feel happy over the fact that the violence spreads to civilians and even diplomatic offices, but immediately added that it was the US politics of interference that had turned against the United States itself.
“This same ambassador participated in the actual military campaign against the Libyan leadership, gave instructions and finances and NATO troops bombed them from the air, turning the country into ruins,” Zyuganov said.
He added that the “shot like a dog” comment was about Muammar Gaddafi and was made a long time ago, but he had to bring it up again to show how neglecting the Muslim traditions turns against the US embassy and its representatives.
“All this violence and barbarism causes regret. But we must remember that those who sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind. This is the essence of my statement,” Zyuganov told the press.
