State Dept. Silent About US Citizen Detained in Ukraine

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The Spin

Narrative A

Lira has rightly been detained for justifying Russia's invasion, denying its war crimes, while insulting brave Ukrainian defenders who are fighting for the country. A search of Lira's computer devices following his arrest has confirmed these violations.

Narrative B

Since the outbreak of the war, Ukraine has passed laws criminalizing dissent, banning opposition political parties, and nationalizing the media. Such measures fly in the face of Western values of freedom of speech. Lira's arrest is a further demonstration of that and such developments should not be tolerated if Ukraine wants to be accepted in the Western community of states.

Metaculus Prediction


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