opinion
Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) accused what he called America's “welfare agent” Ukraine of “executing” an American citizen.
According to recent reports, Gonzalo Lira, a Chilean-American journalist and blogger, died while in detention in a Ukrainian prison.
Lira was arrested in Ukraine in May 2023 for allegedly spreading pro-Russian propaganda during the ongoing conflict.
He was charged under Article 436-2 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which deals with wartime propaganda. Lira was released on bail but was later re-arrested in 2023 while trying to flee the country.
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson posted on X that Lira's father informed him of his son's death while he was in prison.
“Gonzalo Lira Sr. says his son died at age 55 in a Ukrainian prison, where he was being held on charges of criticizing the governments of (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky and Biden,” Carlson wrote. He added: “Gonzalo Lira was an American citizen, but it is clear that the Biden administration supported his imprisonment and torture.”
RELATED: Elon Musk calls out Zelensky and Biden over American journalist imprisoned in Ukraine
Vance accuses Ukraine of culling the lira
Elon Musk, CEO of Carlson, Vance and X, has been calling on the US government to do something about Gonzalo Lira's imprisonment in Ukraine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier issued a statement saying that it was “aware of Mr. Lira’s detention in Ukraine” and was “providing all appropriate assistance.”
Critics wonder why that “help” did not include a direct flight home.
Lyra's father said the “clear lack of response” from Joe Biden's administration demonstrated a level of complicity on their part to allow Ukraine to continue detaining an American citizen.
“An American citizen is in prison (in) Ukraine after we sent over $100 billion?” Musk previously asked. “Is there more to this story than just criticizing Zelensky?”
Vance took to X to share his thoughts that while some pro-war leftists are celebrating Lyra's death because of his mysterious past, an American should never die in the prison of a country that claims to be an ally while happily taking taxpayer money.
“I'm sure sociopaths would argue, in fact, that Lyra deserves it,” he wrote. “But count me as one of those who believe that our welfare agents should not execute our citizens.”
RELATED: J.D. Vance accuses Ukraine of holding US journalist hostage as Biden seeks to send them billions more
Why didn't the United States demand his return?
Senator Vance had previously criticized Gonzalo Lira's imprisonment, calling it a “disgrace.” he wondered openlyAnd “Why does the Biden official open the checkbook without any accountability?”
The fact that the White House sat idly by while Lera languished in prison for pro-Russian propaganda should be an indication of how they would feel if their political opponents expressed views that conflicted with their own.
Some might say that this is the point of the January 6 prisons.
Lera's father claims that his son was tortured in prison for criticizing Zelensky.
However, X's fact-checking feature, Community Notes, disputes this assertion, saying that he “was not tortured, nor is he in prison for the crime of criticizing Zelensky.”
“Lera is in prison because he was arrested for multiple crimes, including sharing the location of Ukrainian forces with Russia,” they stated.
Some critics countered that those forces had already been exposed through public outlets.
Sarah Ashton Cirillo, an American “transgender war correspondent” who works as a spokeswoman for Ukraine's Regional Defense Forces, told Business Insider last month that Lira was “in good health” and denied being tortured.
“In an attempt to gain sympathy, Gonzalo Lira fabricated allegations of ill-treatment and torture,” Ashton Cirillo said. “As someone who spoke to him shortly after he was taken back into custody, it was clear that he was in good health and being treated very fairly by the state security services.”
Just weeks later, Lyra died.
The US State Department confirmed Lyra's death, but no further details are yet available about the circumstances of what happened.
A department spokesperson said: “We offer our sincere condolences to the family for their loss.” “We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. Out of respect for the family during this difficult time, we have no further comment.
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