OP-ED

Alexander J. Motyl: Vladimir Putin, war criminal

By Alexander J. Motyl.

Published Jan. 7, 2017 at 9:56 pm

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) attends a Christmas service at the Saint George's Monastery in Novgorod Region early on January 7, 2017.Orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on January 7 in the Middle East, Russia and other Orthodox churches that use the old Julian calendar instead of the 17th-century Gregorian calendar adopted by Catholics, Protestants, Greek Orthodox and commonly used in secular life around the world / AFP PHOTO / Mikhail KLIMENTIEV

Photo by AFP

NEWARK, New Jersey — Russia’s criminal behavior in Syria is just the latest in a long string of crimes perpetrated by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration may be unwilling to admit it, but Putin is a war criminal. The U.S. government may need to negotiate with him, but it should remember that he is a butcher.

Read Alexander J. Motyl’s opinion here