Kathrine Frich
Rhetoric from Moscow has taken a darker turn following the US operation in Venezuela.
A senior Russian official has openly speculated about replicating such actions against Western leaders.
The remarks have sparked fresh concern about the tone and direction of Kremlin messaging.
Provocative comments
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has suggested that kidnapping operations similar to the US action in Venezuela could be imagined against other world leaders, according to dpa.
Speaking to the Russian state news agency TASS, Medvedev specifically named German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz as a potential target.
“The kidnapping of neo-Nazi Merz can be an excellent twist in this carnival of events,” Medvedev was quoted as saying.
Justifying rhetoric
Medvedev claimed such a scenario would not be unrealistic, arguing that Merz could allegedly face prosecution in Germany itself.
“There are grounds for prosecuting him in Germany itself, so it would not be a loss, especially when citizens are suffering unnecessarily,” he said.
The remarks come as Medvedev continues to position himself as one of the Kremlin’s most aggressive and outspoken figures.
Hardline turn
Medvedev served as Russia’s president from 2008 to 2012, but in recent years he has adopted an increasingly confrontational tone.
He has repeatedly issued incendiary statements targeting Ukraine, European governments and the United States, often amplifying hardline Kremlin narratives.
His latest comments were framed as a response to Washington’s seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Venezuela comparison
Medvedev dismissed claims by the Trump administration that Maduro was an illegitimate leader, saying such arguments did not withstand scrutiny.
Maduro was arrested during a US military operation and transferred to New York, an action that has drawn sharp reactions from Moscow.
Russian officials have portrayed the operation as a dangerous precedent that could be applied elsewhere.
Zelensky claims repeated
Medvedev also turned his attention to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reiterating Moscow’s claim that his mandate has expired.
The Kremlin has repeatedly declared Zelensky illegitimate because no new elections have been held.
Ukraine, however, maintains that its constitution allows presidential terms to be extended during wartime, and Zelensky remains in office under those provisions.
Sources: dpa, TASS, Ziare.com
