Putin to press Biden on human rights of Capitol rioters, Russia says

Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to press President Biden on the “human rights” of Capitol rioters when they meet this month in Switzerland, the country’s top diplomat says.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said alleged rioters are being “persecuted” and that Putin will turn the tables on Biden over US support for Russian dissidents, such as jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who last year survived poisoning attempts.

“We are ready to talk, we have no taboo topics. We will discuss whatever we think is necessary. We will be ready to answer the questions that the American side will raise. This also applies to human rights,” Lavrov reportedly said at a press conference Monday in Moscow.

“For example, we are following with interest the persecution of those persons who are accused of the riots on January 6 this year,” Lavrov said.

He said that in the US, “a lot of really interesting things are happening from the point of view of the rights of the opposition and protecting those rights.”