Recent Russia’s appearance on the media: The Russian’s strength has not been brought down with the plane

Over the last two weeks, Putin has not officially commented on claims that the plane was brought down over Sinai by a bomb. Vladimir Putin has appeared only once on Russian Media Since the tragedy. In a short eulogy on television, he offered his condolences for the death of the 224 passengers and has not been seen on the media since. However, Russia appears on the media over the last few days, presenting its own way to comment on the tragedy; reminding us its strength and ideals, who haven’t brought down with the plane.

The first scandal followed a publication of the French magazine, Charlie Hebdo. Earlier this week, the magazine had published satiric cartoons which refer to the plane crash disaster. The cartoons were a satiric comment to the tragedy, as well as to Russia’s recent acts in Syria. For instance, one of the cartoons shows parts of the aircraft and a passenger falling toward the ground, while an Islamic State militant, cover himself to avoid the falling objects. Underneath the caricature is the caption: “Daesh: Russia’s aviation intensifies its bombardments”. As seen, Russia didn’t find the cartoon funny, but “sacrilege and an immoral”, as said the Russian lawmaker, Vadim Solovyov, to Russia Today newspaper. Russia’s reaction following the publication, has appeared through a wave of protests against Charlie Hebdo across the social media, and even a discussion with its Foreign Minister on a possibility to blacklist the magazine staff as a whole. According to the Moscow Times, the editor of Charlie Hebdo, Gerard Briar defended the publication, telling a Russian-language French radio station: “We are a secular, democratic and atheist newspaper. The term ‘blasphemy’ has no meaning for us. The Kremlin is using this to detract attention from other problems.”

Secondly, Russia has increased her acts in Syria over the past week, which can appear also as a possible react due to the widely assumed terrorist bombing of the plane.

In three days only, 448 ISIS’s targets has been destroyed by Russia’s airstrikes. Also, according to the Daily Express, Russia claims that even though the American military is responsible for the dead of the most wanted ISIS militant Jihadi John, the US only acted because of the success of Putin’s recent bombing campaign in Syria.

Even though Russia and Egypt are the only governments who held back from making a statement on the cause of the crash, Russia’s recent acts seem to represent the country’s assumptions.

Russia’s silent is odd. However, Russia in her way keeps on showing the world her thick skin. The reasons why Russia is avoiding making a statement of a terrorist attack that brought down the plane can be explained by the dilemma Russia would have to confront considering any future acts against the IS or any other terror groups. The increased bombing in Syria meanwhile, may demonstrate the message of power Russia wants to present. In days of so many questions and attack over Syria’s skies, I believe that the focus on Charlie Hebdo’s publication is certainly an act of destruction.