The Kremlin has claimed that former US President Donald Trump’s trial for falsifying business records demonstrates the White House’s effort to “eliminate” its political rivals.
On Thursday, Trump became the first former US president to be convicted of a crime, as a New York jury found him guilty on 34 felony charges related to a hush money case.
“The fact that there is a de-facto elimination of political rivals by all possible legal and illegal means is obvious,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
Russia, whose judiciary has been criticized by rights groups and foreign governments for jailing dissidents, frequently critiques the legal systems in Western countries.
Trump, who is vying for a return to the White House in the upcoming November election, has previously praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “smart guy.” He has also vowed to end the Ukraine conflict “within 24 hours” if re-elected—a proposal met with skepticism and concern from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In February, Trump stirred controversy by suggesting he would “encourage” attacks on NATO allies that did not meet their financial commitments, drawing sharp criticism from the White House and even some of his supporters.
