Gonzalo Lira died in Ukraine (thank the United States of Approved Americans)
The American vlogger was an enigma, but now he's dead because his country abandoned him because he didn't agree with its war plans against Russia.
“I cannot accept the way my son has died. He was tortured, extorted, incommunicado for 8 months and 11 days, and the US Embassy did nothing to help my son. The responsibility of this tragedy is the dictator Zelensky with the concurrence of a senile American President, Joe Biden.” - Gonzalo Lira Snr.
Gonzalo Lira was critical of Zelensky, believing that Ukraine was fighting a war it couldn’t win, and that Ukrainians were dying for nothing. Truth.
Lira vlogged his criticism from within Ukraine. Brave. Insane.
He got arrested which made many people worried because the SBU, Ukraine’s successor to the KGB (and also assassination squad), would’ve monitored Lira’s electronic devices and those he was in contact with.
When Lira was surprisingly released, hackles rose on some, whilst others had faith in Lira and hoped he’d be able to escape into Hungary. If you don’t know the back story, read:
“Was Gonzalo Lira an agent of the SBU?” It’s valid being paranoid during wartime and our era of surveillance. Even Faina Savenkova, the famous teenager in the Donbas, was on the dreaded Mirotvorets target list. There was reason to be suspicious, but there wasn’t any proof. Or, if there was, no one was going to share it from Ukraine against the SBU.
My opinion was murky, and I had sympathy for the possibility of the terrible stress Lira would’ve been under. What would I do to save my life?
Today, Tucker Carlson announced that Lira, age 55, was dead. He was informed by Lira’s father that Lira had died in a hospital after his treatment had been delayed in prison.
Gonzalo Lira was held in the Kharkiv pretrial detention center for 5 months, and had pneumonia for 3 months of that. Appeals by his father to the USA for help went unheeded. At Gonzalo’s court hearing on December 22, he was finally admitted to hospital.
What may be the last message from Gonzalo Lira was handed to his lawyer.
That’s the nut in the shell. The USA decided that Lira’s American citizenship, and the rights he was owed because of that, didn’t count because he didn’t support their imperialist war against Russia. No ambiguity there. The USA has a history of abandoning or attacking its citizens who don’t support its bloody intentions.
The US State Department confirmed Lira’s death and ironically said:
"We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance. Out of respect to the family during this difficult time, we have no further comment.”
Elon Musk, the provider of Ukraine’s internet that is prolonging the war and increasing Ukrainian death, previously questioned Lira’s detention.
"An American citizen is in prison in Ukraine after we sent over a $100 billion? Is there more to this story than simply criticizing Zelenskyy? If that’s all it is, then we have serious problem here."
Musk’s power was obvious when he received a response from the SBU.
It’s show and tell time for Musk. Will he use his leverage now, or will he use Zelensky’s long oppression of journalists as an excuse to get out of Ukraine. Or are his Pentagon buddies more important?
A Twitter profile called Russian Market pointed out that:
“Gonzalo Lira, an American citizen and journalist, passes away in a Ukrainian jail for speaking the truth about Zelensky. Now, Zelensky himself is coming to Davos to receive applause and additional financial support from the West, particularly America. You can't make it up.”
Will Ukraine return Lira’s body to his family so that we can hopefully learn more? It may take years to discover what Lira suffered, and who in the State Department made the decision to abandon Lira to thugs. That arsehole must be punished.
Here’s Larry Johnson eulogy to Lira.
“Is the truth propaganda?
America creates chaos all around the world
and calls it the “Rules Based Order”.
The more you understand, the less you forgive.”
- Gonzalo Lira’s byline on Twitter.
I'm a small guy but I would like Gonzalo Lira's death to matter longer, and not be diluted by me 'rushing' to my next post. Consequently, I'm rescheduling my Sunday feature to next week.
A murder most foul. Rest in Power Gonzalo. You fought the good fight 🫡