Scott Ritter wants you to "start asking questions" about Alexander Zyryanov's arrest

He made this request one hour after we started asking questions about Zyryanov's arrest. Coincidence or fate?!

On June 14, 4:53pm Moscow Time, I published a blog post that made the following observations:

• Russian media reports have speculated that the untimely arrest of Alexander Zyryanov, Scott Ritter’s Russian sponsor, is likely part of a regional political feud in Novosibirsk.

• Regional business and political leaders have openly expressed doubts about the “corruption” charges brought against Zyryanov.

• Zyryanov told reporters that, “Since November, they have been hinting to me that it would be a good idea to leave my position, because one of the leaders of the region is interested in promoting his protége.”

• Zyryanov had been praised in local media for delivering aid to Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

• In media appearances, Ritter has said that his friend denies the charges brought against him, but that Zyryanov’s case is an “internal Russian thing” and “none of [his] business”.

I finished the blog post by suggesting that maybe it would be a good idea to start asking questions about Zyryanov’s arrest.

Approximately one hour after publishing my blog post, Ritter made the following statements during a livestream with RT’s Fiorella Isabel:

• “Alexander told me back in November of last year that there were political powers in Novosibirsk that were trying to push him aside, to take over his position.”

• “The Alexander that I knew was an honest man. This charge of corruption just rings false—rings false. I’m not saying it can’t be, I don’t know the details—it rings false. It rings false because of the man I knew, but it also rings false because of the company he kept.”

• “[Zyryanov] had been delivering humanitarian goods, drones, and specialized equipment to the fighters in Bakhmut. He sent me a photograph from Bakhmut. Corrupt people don’t deliver humanitarian goods, cell phones and stuff to the fighters in Bakhmut. He did the same thing right before this trip—I think five armored vehicles full of drones, etc., to the fighters on the frontlines.”

• “He’s a hero of Russia. Alexander Zyryanov deserves a medal put on his chest, he doesn’t deserve to spend one day in jail. So all I’m asking from people to do is start asking questions, that’s all.”

Here’s the relevant clip:

Here’s a transcript:

If the opportunity continues I would hope to continue to work with Russia, but notice what I said: Work with Russia. I don’t work for Russia. Never have, never will. And the moment this becomes an exercise that can be misconstrued, misinterpreted as Russian propaganda, is the moment I unplug.

I’m hopeful that I’ll be able to continue to work with Russia to achieve mutual objectives of friendship based upon common understanding, etc.

And I’ll just say this to the Russian audience: If the Russian government doesn’t care about America anymore, doesn’t care about Americans anymore—and I’m not saying they’re wrong—I’m just saying at that point then what’s the purpose of an American trying to care about Russia? It is a two-way street and it requires both sides to be willing to work with one another. And I understand the frustration of the Russians.

But there are Americans who do want to do the right thing. There are Americans who do want to have friendship. There are Americans who are trying to pursue peaceful outcomes. And if they’re shut out, they can’t help you—they can’t help you.

And the reason why I bring this up is that, you know, the person that I was working with in Russia was arrested. And I don’t know the circumstances, I’m not a Russian lawyer, I don’t pretend to understand Russian law—but that was my point of contact.

And I can say this about Alexander Zyryanov, who was the director of the investment agency of Novosibirsk: The Alexander that I knew was an honest man. This charge of corruption just rings false—rings false. I’m not saying it can’t be, I don’t know the details—it rings false. It rings false because of the man I knew, but it also rings false because of the company he kept.

You’re judged in a large sense by the company you keep. He kept company of immaculate character, moral character, professional character. These were good people, people of great standing. If you’re a corrupt individual around there playing crooked deals, you’re not surrounded by people like this.

So there was nothing about Alexander Zyryanov that gave off any hint that he was anything other than who he presented himself to be.

Now I know he may have stepped on some toes. I know that some people might of been concerned that the trips that I was on was giving him too high of a profile—that’s not a crime. That’s not a crime, that’s not what you arrest somebody and put him in jail for.

But I’ll also say this and I’ll leave it at this, because like I said, I don’t want to get involved in Russian legal affairs and internal—Alexander told me back in November of last year that there were political powers in Novosibirsk that were trying to push him aside, to take over his position.

Because Alexander Zyryanov as the director of this investment development agency—he started that job in 2017. What he did to Novosibirsk, and I want every citizen of Novosibirsk to understand it, is transform your economy. He transformed your economy. He brought in the investments. He made it the dynamic economy that it is. He’s the reason why you’re the third-largest city in Russia and the largest growing economy—because of his work. Now there were other people he didn’t do it by himself. But that’s who this guy is.

And I’ll also say this for the Russians: You speak highly of the heroes of the special military operation. I’ll give you two little war stories. Back when I was getting read to come for the first time—it was a big deal for me. I’m coming to Russia for the first time in 30 years. I’m a little nervous. And I don’t know what to expect. And so I keep calling up Alexander and say, ‘hey, make me feel good about this trip. Make me feel like it’s worthwhile doing’. And I had this period of time where I couldn’t get in touch with him. I was getting frustrated. I’m like ‘what the hell is going on?’

Then he sends me a photograph. He had been delivering humanitarian goods, drones, and specialized equipment to the fighters in Bakhmut. He sent me a photograph from Bakhmut. Corrupt people don’t deliver humanitarian goods, cell phones and stuff to the fighters in Bakhmut. He did the same thing right before this trip—I think five armored vehicles full of drones, etc., to the fighters on the frontlines.

He’s a hero of Russia. Alexander Zyryanov deserves a medal put on his chest, he doesn’t deserve to spend one day in jail.

So all I’m asking from people to do is start asking questions, that’s all.

If the answers are that he committed a crime—if you’re familiar with the TV show Barretta from the 1970s, ‘don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time’—and that’s just the way it is around the world. Nobody is above the law. But the Alexander that I know, that I worked with, I can’t image him doing the things he was accused of. He’s not a corrupt individual. He’s a patriot, and he was trying his damndest to make relations between Russia and America better.

And this project is a lesser project without him. It doesn’t mean that the project is over. But the dynamic nature that he brought with him—this was a human force that made things work. His desire for peace was discernable and I’m deeply saddened that my friend is in prison. I’m deeply saddened that our project has been put on hold. And I’m hopeful that things will work out for the better for both of us.

I continue to search for statements or comments made by Ritter about Zyryanov’s arrest—and as far as I can tell, this is the first time that Ritter has opened up about the case and stated unequivocally that he thinks his friend has been wrongly accused.

Ritter’s comment about Zyryanov telling him back in November that a Novosibirsk bigwig was coming after his job is especially interesting. Why did Ritter wait until now to share this information?

The timing is just very strange.

source: Edward Slavsquat

I have even more questions now than I did on June 14 at 4:53 pm, an hour before Scott Ritter channeled his inner Slavsquat and began urging people to ask questions.

But I have already asked enough questions.

Perhaps it is time for other people to ask questions?

In the meantime …

Puppies.