Russia slams Blinken comments on Raisi death as 'insolent', 'inhumane'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 May 2024 16:27

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin has condemned Blinken's remarks on Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's death, deeming them "insolent and inhumane."

Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin speaks during a parliamentary session in Moscow on July 6, 2022. (The State Duma, The Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation via AP)

State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin criticized the remarks made by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken regarding Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on May 20, calling them "insolent and inhumane."

This comes shortly after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in congressional testimony said, "Bearing in mind the horrific acts in which he was involved as a judge and president, and the fact that he cannot be involved in them in the slightest, yes, the Iranian people are probably better off," in response to a question, before adding, "We are definitely not grieving over his death."

"This boorish attitude is causing increasing irritation among citizens of other countries. Because of Washington’s policies, the very word 'American' will soon become a dirty word all over the world," Volodin stated.

He asserted that millions of mourning citizens flooded the streets of Tehran to pay their respects to the head of state following the tragic event. In light of this, Blinken's statement appears akin to the rhetoric of a regime representative operating under a sense of exceptionalism, according to the State Duma Speaker.

Khorasan bids Pres. Raisi farewell in ceremony attended by millions

Earlier today, the funeral procession for the late President Ebrahim Raisi commenced in the city of Birjand, the capital of South Khorasan Province.

Before being led to his final resting place, the Khorasan Province marked the last stop of the funeral ceremony, which started from Tabriz and then moved to Qom and Tehran.

The body of the Iranian president was transported to the final stop of the funeral ceremony in Birjand, the capital of Khorasan Province, before his burial in the Imam Reza shrine in Mashhad.

Millions of Iranians and others who traveled to Iran from various countries have been taking part in the funeral ceremony, which has been going on for two days.

Concurrently, social media users worldwide have taken en masse to relevant platforms, refuting a Western media narrative suggesting a subdued response within Iran to the recent tragic loss of Raisi and his companions.

Raisi, alongside Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others, tragically died in a helicopter crash on Sunday while en route to Tabriz. Following the accident, millions gathered for funeral processions all over Iran from Tabriz to Qom and Tehran.

After the announcement of Raisi's death, footage showcased millions marching, mournful, paying heartfelt tribute, and chanting their support for what they regarded as a martyr of duty and a prominent leader. The scenes mirrored the profound impact of the loss on the Iranian nation.

Mainstream Western media outlets quickly reacted with a series of misreports and downplays, aiming to diminish the profound sorrow that engulfed Iran following the tragic incident. Meanwhile, social media users vehemently opposed the Western media's narrative, sharing photos and videos of the grieving nation flooding the streets to mourn their beloved President's passing.