Russia issues arrest warrant for Sen. Lindsey Graham over Ukraine war comments

MOSCOW —  Russia’s Interior Ministry on Monday issued an arrest warrant for Sen. Lindsey Graham following the South Carolina Republican’s comments related to the war in Ukraine.

In an edited video of his meeting Friday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that was released by Zelensky’s office, Graham noted that “the Russians are dying” and described U.S. military assistance to Ukraine as “the best money we’ve ever spent.”

While Graham appeared to have made the remarks in different parts of the conversation, the short video by Ukraine’s presidential office put them next to each other, causing outrage in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday that “it’s hard to imagine a greater shame for the country than having such senators.”

Russia’s Investigative Committee, the country’s top criminal investigation agency, has moved to open a criminal inquiry against Graham, and the Interior Ministry followed up by issuing a warrant for his arrest, indicated Monday in its official record of wanted criminal suspects.

Graham is among more than 200 U.S. members of Congress whom Moscow banned last year from entering Russia.

The senator commented on Twitter, saying that “to know that my commitment to Ukraine has drawn the ire of Putin’s regime brings me immense joy.”

“I will continue to stand with and for Ukraine’s freedom until every Russian soldier is expelled from Ukrainian territory,” he tweeted. “I will wear the arrest warrant issued by Putin’s corrupt and immoral government as a Badge of Honor.”