Georgian man extradited to US to face charges over poison-candy terror plot
Guardian4 days
Georgian Man Extradited to US for Alleged Hate Crimes and Mass Casualty Plots
Above: A picture of the Brooklyn Federal Court Building, where Michail Chkhikvishvili was arraigned. Image copyright: Theodore Parisienne/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Chkhikvishvili is an extremist neo-nazi who has conspired to bring violence to racial minority groups across the U.S. and the world. He actively plotted to conduct mass murder on the streets of New York City and Brooklyn, while his terror organization and hate-filled rhetoric directly inspired attacks from Nashville, Texas, to Eskisehir, Turkey. Chkhikvishvili is an unparalleled danger to society and must face the full consequences of his actions.
Narrative B
While his alleged actions are reprehensible, the court must take into consideration the defense’s request for a psychiatric evaluation and the possibility that Chkhikvishvili may be mentally unwell. While this is no excuse for his actions, it might reveal that should he be proven mentally ill, Chkhikvishvili needs to be permanently institutionalized rather than simply incarcerated. Regardless, the courts must allow for a fair trial to examine all the evidence relevant to this case.