The Russian Embassy has claimed the Government is “misleading” people like Finbar Cafferkey in a “chilling” and “threatening” statement.
The Russian Embassy in Dublin has criticised comments by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin on the death of Finbar Cafferkey while fighting in Ukraine.
It warned that if the Government was seen to support Irish people fighting in Ukraine “Ireland would be the direct participant of the conflict with all the ensuing consequences”.
"We also do not know if Mr. Martin’s remarks signify support for the Irish to take part in combat in Ukraine," it said. "But we do know that if that is the case, then Ireland would be the direct participant of the conflict with all the ensuing consequences."
Mr Martin expressed sympathy for the Cafferkey family yesterday and said Mr Cafferkey was "a man of clear principles".
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence Charlie Flanagan described the statement from the Russian Embassy as “threatening, intimidating and chilling”.
“These hostile remarks are unacceptable,” he said. “Beyond time Ambassador Filatov and his crew were asked to leave our country.”
🇮🇪 🇷🇺 Threatening, intimidating & chilling statement by Russian embassy Dublin. These hostile remarks are unacceptable. Beyond time Ambassador Filatov & his crew were asked to leave our country. https://t.co/Ez7frUSdIv
— Charlie Flanagan (@CharlieFlanagan) April 28, 2023
“We do not know who Finbar Cafferkey was, except that for whatever reason he was fighting in a foreign land,” the Russian Embassy's statement said.
“What we do know, though, is that in a very big way it is the Irish Government and media to who bear responsibility for the death of Finbar Cafferkey.”
They said the Government and the Irish media have been promoting “anti-Russian propaganda”, “distorting the truth” about the conflict in Ukraine and “misleading” people like Finbar Cafferkey.
“Now they face the results of their own efforts,” it said.
Main image: Split screen of Finbar Cafferkey via Shell to Sea and image of Russian Embassy logo in Dublin
