Following the Obama Administration’s announcement to expel 35 Russian intelligence officials and other sanctions in response to Russian hacking, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev took to Twitter to express his displeasure.
????????, ??? ????????????? ?????, ??????? ???????? ???? ????? ? ?????????????? ??????????????, ??????????? ?? ?????????????? ???????. RIP
— ??????? ???????? (@MedvedevRussia) December 30, 2016
“It is sad that the Obama administration, which began its life with [a commitment to] renewed cooperation [with Russia], finishes it in anti-Russian agony. RIP,” tweeted Medvedev.
Prime Minister Medvedev served as president in between Putin’s second and third terms. He stepped down in 2012 to allow Putin to continue his reign of the Russian presidency.
The Kremlin is livid at the new American sanctions. President Putin had considered a tit-for-tat response with his own expulsion of American officials, but has decided not to do so. He is apparently waiting to see what the incoming Trump Administration will do.
“While reserving the right to respond in kind, we are not going to stoop to this level of irresponsible diplomacy, and will be taking further steps to restore Russian-U.S. relations on the basis of policies which will be pursued by President Donald Trump’s administration,” per the statement from the Kremlin.
Considering the prime minister’s odd tweet, let’s go back to before the 2012 elections when President Obama was caught on a hot mic telling Medvedev he would have “more flexibility” after his last election.
With that level of capitulation, why would Russian officials be afraid to tweet whatever they wanted at President Obama?