Looking back at Crawley MP’s jibe at Russian leader Putin amidst escalating conflict in Ukraine
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Russian troops have been massing on the borders and earlier this week long-time president Vladimir Putin recognised the independence of two of Ukraine’s eastern regions.
World leaders and diplomats have warned of a possible invasion and a number of countries have announced sanctions.
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Hide AdMr Putin has long been a controversial figure and back in 2013 comments about the UK proved to be a step too far for one Sussex politician.
At a G20 summit in St Petersburg, one of the Russian President’s aides was reported to have dismissed the UK as ‘just a small island’ that no one pays attention to.
This prompted Crawley MP Henry Smith to take to Twitter and write: “Putin really is a tosser.”
Explaining his comments to the Crawley Observer at the time, the Conservative politician said: “The 140 character restriction on Twitter does mean you use language that’s more colloquial than you would use in other forums such as Parliament.”
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Hide AdHe added that he had been ‘frustrated’ at Mr Putin’s support for Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria and his ‘abuse of human rights’.
He added: “Given his comments insulting this country, I guess I kind of lost my rag.”