Russian officials have hit back at claims that their nation was behind the arson attack on the home of Sir Keir Starmer by bizarrely blaming the Daily Star's Lizzy Lettuce.
Ukrainian Roman Lavrynovych, 22, and Ukrainian-born Romanian Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, were both found guilty of committing the attack. However, a recent investigation by the BBC suggested the pair were paid by a Russian ringleader known as 'El Money' who has links to important figures in Putin's regime.
Now a key Russian diplomat has responded, denying any Kremlin involvement and pointing the finger at a surprising candidate: the Daily Star's plucky vegetable that brought down former Prime Minister Liz Truss.
Diplomat's Telegram Response
Writing on Telegram, Putin's Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Maria Zakharova mocked claims that government figures had been involved, questioning why British journalists and academics had been so quick to point the finger at Russia.
She wrote: 'Ukrainian citizens burned down the British prime minister's house and car. They carry out similar actions across Europe and around the world, proudly reporting on these acts of extremism. Guess who, from the point of view of British journalists and academics, is to blame?'
Bizarre Verdict
The diplomat then went on to list some potential suspects including the arsonists themselves, British spies and Russian diplomats, before delivering her bizarre verdict.
She wrote: 'Options: The arsonists themselves — Ukrainian citizens who somehow ended up in England and are living lavishly on British taxpayers' money. His Majesty's MI6/007 agents, who failed (or perhaps deliberately turned a blind eye) to who was filling the Ukrainian refugee diaspora. Or Russia, Russian diplomats, and international-relations students (for some reason not hackers), who allegedly directed/controlled the activists from the first two categories.'
According to Zakharova, the answer is none of the above. Instead, the answer lies with the iconic vegetable. She wrote: 'Correct answer: a lettuce — the scourge of British prime ministers that defeated Liz Truss.'
