Guest Post by Dave DeCamp
Gonzalo Lira, a popular YouTuber and writer, was arrested by the SBU for his political views on the war
The State Department has refused to say if it’s engaging with the Ukrainian government over American citizen Gonzalo Lira, who was detained by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) due to his political views on the conflict with Russia.
Lira has a popular YouTube channel and a large following on Twitter and Telegram. He is also a writer who has contributed to several media outlets, including Business Insider. Lira was born in California and is a dual citizen of the US and Chile and had been living in Kharkiv, Ukraine, throughout the war.
Lira is a critic of the Ukrainian government and was arrested by the SBU on charges of justifying the Russian invasion. “After the start of the full-scale invasion, the blogger was one of the first to support the Russian invaders and glorify their war crimes,” the SBU said in a press release referring to Lira.
The SBU also accused Lira of “discrediting the top military and political leadership and the Defense Forces of our state.” He was charged under sections 2 and 3 of Article 436-2 of Ukraine’s criminal code, which outlaws the “distribution of materials” that justify Russia’s actions going back to 2014.
Epoch Times reporter Liam Cosgrove asked State Department spokesman Matthew Miller if the administration was aware of Lira’s detainment and how the US feels about Ukraine arresting an American for speech.
State Department refuses to say whether it will negotiate with Zelensky for the release of detained U.S. citizen Gonzalo Lira: pic.twitter.com/jTD58XjYnw
— Liam Cosgrove (@cosgrove_iv) May 28, 2023
“So I will say in general that we’re aware of the report. We obviously support the exercise of freedom of speech anywhere in the world, and I’ll leave it at that,” Miller said.
When asked if the administration was working to secure Lira’s release, Miller said, “I’m going to leave my comments where I just left them.”
Cosgrove also asked Reps. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) about Lira’s detainment. Lieu said that he wasn’t aware of the case but said US citizens should “have the ability to express their thoughts and views” and that he would look into the arrest.
Responding to the news, Greene told Cosgrove: “America is providing weapons, equipment for the defense of their country, but the Ukrainian government is not going to defend any American’s freedom of speech, and that’s a real problem.”
Lira’s arrest received virtually no attention in Western media. One of the few outlets to cover it was the Daily Beast, which smeared the American instead of questioning the charges. According to the Beast, Lira is facing five to eight years in prison.
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What’s the problem? It’s not like Lira is a POC bouncy-ball player caught with drugs or something.
I think Lira should clearly state and identify as bouncy ball player and tranny. Maybe asking for a blm shirt too. But its not without risk as he could get a private audience with ukies fag leader, oh my
Just a few piano lessons and he’ll be singing the correct tune!
There’s a time and a place for everything. Lira just learned that the hard way…and all because he couldn’t read the fucking room.
Sad.
Wake up – read the planet instead of the room.
.
Lira’s problem is that he reads the room too accurately.
“We obviously support the exercise of freedom of speech anywhere in the world”
We are now at the point where everything the gov says is the exact opposite of the truth; they do not support the exercise of freedom of speech, actually they’re doing everything to restrict both the 1A and 2A and once we lose those completely all the rest of the rights will be gone also.
In America, you can say anything- except the truth.
It’s not quite so obvious in UK Iska, because in the ‘The Blob’ they are all sneaky bastards in the same club. But HMG has to publish but they know that the 99%, either can’t read, don’t care, or have no idea what’s happening anyway even when it’s put in front of their face.
Here’s an example buried deep in Whitehall: https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/publications/resist-2-counter-disinformation-toolkit/
Yes currently in Ukraine communication of some opinions is illegal – especially if they are based in fact.
All credit to a brave fellow, but if you play with fire you are likely to get burnt; as I have found to my cost in the past.
This is a guy I used to exchange emails with about precious metals in a previous epoch. I didn’t like the Ukies, now I despise them. Tomorrow AM I am calling Senators, congressional people etc and hope to get some visibility on this travesty. All help appreciated.
Like it’ll do anything
In the absence of your winning leadership, sir, it will just have to do.
It may provide some visibility. I will attempt to light a candle instead of hiding in the darkness. It’s what men do.
I applaud you.
Better call Biden as that’s who’s got the key.
ASIG, when they come for the guns is when they are to be put to use. That’s what Lexington and Concord was all about.
What Joe Biden answers when asked “What country are you in”.
Ever since the site came back up my twitter status links won’t post. I will try again.
Based
My guess is that not one in a million people in this country have emailed their Congressman and demanded they make the State Department answer for this. An American Citizen, born in Los Angeles is now in a Ukraine Gulag because he exercised his freedom of speech in a so called Democracy that the US is supporting completely.
I would doubt if any of you reading this have mustered the effort to type a email. We are a pathetic country, and I am ashamed of what we now are.
I made numerous calls to congress and some state officials last week. How about you? If you did, congratulations and thanks.
Hell yes! I email the bastards once a week to hold their feet to the fire. Gonnzalo is a stand up guy, and I will do all I can to make sure he does not get disappeared by the NATZI bastards our government supports.
the nazi government of ukraine owes adolf hitler an apology.