The most disturbing indication of Vladimir Putin’s violent ambitions is what happened in October 2016 in Montenegro, when Russian intelligence operatives plotted to overthrow the democratically elected government of Montenegro and murder its prime minister, US senator John McCain told USA Today.
He added that Russia had viewed Montenegro’s pursuit of European Union and NATO membership as both insulting and threatening, particularly because Montenegro was once part of Russia’s traditional Slavic ally, Serbia.
“The country has long been a favourite for Russian tourists. Indeed, Russian politicians and oligarchs are reported to own as much as 40% of the real estate in Montenegro. Montenegro is also strategically located on the Adriatic Sea. Russia unsuccessfully sought a naval base in Montenegro a few years ago. But now, when Montenegro joined NATO, the entire Adriatic Sea would fall within NATO’s borders, which is one more reason for Russia’s anger,” he added.
Montenegro’s election was a last chance to stop it from joining NATO and to reassert Russian influence in southeastern Europe.
He said the American people must be aware of the state coup in Montenegro as well as allegations made in these indictments, which are now public.
“This heinous plot should be a warning to every American that we cannot treat Russia’s interference in our 2016 election as an isolated incident. We have to stop looking at this through the warped lens of politics and see this attack on our democracy for what it is: just one phase of Putin’s long-term campaign to weaken the United States, to destabilize Europe, to break the NATO alliance, to undermine confidence in Western values, and to erode any and all resistance to his dangerous view of the world,” McCain said.
“It won’t be long before Putin takes interest in another American election. The victim may be a Republican. It may be a Democrat. To Putin, it won’t matter as long as he achieves his dark and divisive goals,” he added.
Russia attacked America’s 2016 election, attempted to interfere in France’s 2017 election, and is expected to do the same in German and other future European elections, he said.
