I grew up during the Cold War..was about 20 when the USSR fell apart. I say that to say that I am probably biased and tend to believe stories about Russia doing things like this.* What are the Russians saying?
*I'm also not naive and know that CIA routinely staged coups and installs puppet leaders.
The Russians are denying, of course. But when I look at it in context of Putins history of meddling in the domestic affairs of his neighbors in Europe since the 2000s, I would say it's likely.
All God's children are not beautiful. Most of God's children are, in fact, barely presentable.
I never met anyone who didn't have a very smart child. What happens to these children, you wonder, when they reach adulthood?
