Dmitry Medvedev calls editors of Times 'legitimate military targets,' UK describes it as 'gangster threat'

Deputy head of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev called the editors of the British news outlet Times “legitimate military targets”. The comment attracted condemnation from UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy, who described the comment as a “gangster threat”.

The Russian politician’s provocative remarks came after the editorial group of Times on Wednesday, described the assassination of Lt Gen Igor Kirillov as “a legitimate act of defence” by Ukraine, which has claimed responsibility for the killing. Kirillov was the head of the military’s chemical, biological and radiological weapons unit, who was killed along with his assistant when a device attached to an e-scooter exploded as the two men left a building in Moscow.

Kirillov was the most senior official in the Russian military to be assassinated as the Russia-Ukraine war continued to escalate. “Those who carry out crimes against Russia … always have accomplices. They too are now legitimate military targets. This category could also include the miserable jackals from The Times who cowardly hid behind their editorial,” the former Russian president wrote on Telegram.

“That means the entire leadership of the publication,” Medvedev, who served as Russia’s president between 2008 and 2012, wrote on his Telegram channel,” he added. Medvedev insisted that Times should “be careful” as “anything goes in London”.

UK hits back

While responding to Medvedev’s post, the UK foreign secretary, David Lammy described his remarks as a ‘gangster threat’. “Our newspapers represent the best of British values: freedom, democracy and independent thinking,” Lammy wrote alongside a picture of himself reading the Times.

When asked about Medvedev’s comments the UK prime minister’s official spokesperson said they were “simply the latest in a series of desperate rhetoric coming from Putin’s government.” “Unlike in Russia, a free press is a cornerstone of our democracy and we take any threats made by Russia incredibly seriously," the spokesperson added.

Medvedev, who cast himself as a liberal reformer promising modernisation and democratisation served as the President of Russia between 2008 and 2012. Over the years Medvedev started taking a pro-war stance and eventually became the best known for his fiery anti-western remarks. He also remains a prominent Putin confidant and recently travelled to Beijing for talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Meanwhile, in the same post, Medvedev also threatened Nato officials for assisting Ukraine. “There’s a whole legion of them. There’s not even enough space to list them, but all these individuals can and should be considered legitimate military targets for the Russian state. And for all Russian patriots for that matter,” he wrote.

With inputs from agencies.