Soros, in shift from U.S. campaign, targets Putin for ‘crimes against humanity’

by WorldTribune Staff, October 7, 2016

All geopolitics is local for billionaire George Soros who charged Russian President Vladimir Putin with “crimes against humanity” in Syria.

“The world is witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe of historic proportions. It is happening in Syria. It is being perpetrated by the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, in support of his protégé, (Syrian President) Bashar Assad,” the hedge fund investor said in a statement posted to his website on Oct. 6.

Vladimir Putin and George Soros
Vladimir Putin and George Soros

“When the facts are fully established, Putin’s bombing of Aleppo will be viewed as among the modern world’s most egregious war crimes.”

Soros also charged Putin with exploiting the upcoming White House transition for political gain

Related: Soros documents reveal plan to expand Democrat base by 10 million voters, Aug. 24, 2016

Some observers say Soros is unloading on Putin because Russia has banned charities founded by Soros, including the Open Society Foundations, saying the organization posed a threat to both state security and the Russian constitution.

Leaked files from the Open Society Foundations included the following:

“Our inclination is to engage in activities and with actors that will understand and counter Russian support to movements defending traditional values…Naming and shaming from us is problematic: we are also in the business of channeling money into other countries for political purposes.”

In his statement on Oct. 6, Soros said that Putin “is moving aggressively to exploit the four months between now and the January 20 U.S. presidential inauguration, based on a callous political calculation. I appeal to the people of Russia, Europe, and the rest of the world not to stand idly by, but to spread the word and voice their outrage. An outpouring of public opinion could induce President Putin to put an end to his heinous crimes against humanity.”

Tensions between the U.S. and Russia have worsened since the quick collapse last month of the Syrian ceasefire agreement.

Russia has joined Syrian government forces in an escalation of airstrikes against rebel-held areas in the northern city of Aleppo. The U.K.-based Syrian Observatory of Human Rights and the United Nations have warned that the death toll is rising due to the airstrikes.

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