A non-serious “critique” of the Ukrainian blacklist in the Indian publication The Print on July 30 quotes top Zelensky Administration figure Mikhailo Podolyak on punishments Ukraine seeks for those on that list. The article is on the subject of the three Indians blacklisted: Sam Pitroda, journalist Saeed Naqvi, and diplomat P.S. Raghavan.
The author, one Kapil Komireddi, reports that he asked Mikhailo Podolyak to “explain” the hit list. Podolyak’s reply is shortened to its essentials here; his full statement is included at the link below. The Zelensky government wants to have the listed prominent individuals “sanctioned” by various countries; treated as though they were “instruments of war"; their influence limited; and to subject them to “military lustration.”
Podolyak to The Print: “The inclusion of certain people, including representatives of foreign states, in the ‘military lustration lists’, is absolutely justified because information is an extremely important part of the war as a whole…. Of course, any justification of the war in favor of Russia, any mention that Russia had the right to attack another country, the denial of Russian war crimes and the spread of disinformation, is an indirect form of participation in a hybrid war and support for the massacres of Ukrainians. Ukraine constantly monitors which public figures in the world are spreading Russia’s cannibalistic narratives. Recording such facts, we consider these people to be unconditional agents of Russian influence…. This means that we officially respond to this with sanctions both within the country and seek sanctions against them in other countries of the civilized world. I will repeat once again because it’s important: These people … they themselves are a kind of instrument of war. And of course, Ukraine is obliged to limit the influence of such people.”
