International press review

In the spotlight: Ukraine fears the worst, after the assassination of the daughter of a close Kremlin

Audio 04:57

Investigators investigate the scene where a car explosion killed Daria Dugina, daughter of ultranationalist Alexander Dugin, near Moscow on August 21, 2022. © Investigative Committee of Russia / AP

By: Véronique Rigolet Follow

4 mins

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Even if the Ukrainians " 

firmly deny being behind this car bomb attack

 " which therefore cost the life of Daria on Saturday evening, the daughter of the ultranationalist ideologue Alexander Dougin and great promoter of the war in Ukraine, " 

the question now is whether Russia will use this assassination as yet another pretext to step up its attacks on Ukraine

 ,” the

Guardian

said .

While the Russian hawks were quick to accuse Kiev, this tragedy could indeed announce a new radicalization of Russia

 ", also argues the Moscow correspondent of the Belgian daily

Le Soir

, who notes that even before this assassination, President Zelensky had warned of " 

against a possible 'cruel' escalation of Russian attacks in Ukraine, as the country prepares to celebrate the 31st anniversary of its independence this week

 ".

There is no evidence that this car bomb attack is linked to the war in Ukraine

 ," said the

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

,

“ 

even if we cannot exclude either that it is the work of the Ukrainians

 ”, underlines the German daily, which also points the finger “ 

the violence of the Russian elite which has always been directed inwards

 ”.

The Russian track not ruled out, Putin facing the internal threat

While the investigation has just started, " 

some Russian opponents argue, without proof, that the attack may have been perpetrated by supporters of the war in order to galvanize support for a more muscular relaunch of the military campaign in Ukraine.

 “, reports the

New York Times

,

which also highlights that " 

others are wondering if this is not a way to silence those who like Dougin want Putin to intensify his efforts

 ".

“ 

Whoever is the author of this attack, one thing is certain in any case

: the attack perpetrated near Moscow poses a serious strategic problem for Russia

 ”, estimates an American specialist in

La Repubblica

.

Just as it is already strengthening its defenses in Crimea, the Kremlin will therefore have to ask itself the question of strengthening internal security

 ", comments the Italian daily, " 

which will divert the resources necessary for the front, while destabilizing the Russian society

 .

“ 

Politicians, advisers and supporters of the government, the entire elite will now feel in danger.

 »

Singapore to repeal law criminalizing sex between men

A small revolution in the very conservative Singapore which is making the front page of a large part of the international press today, and in particular of the Hong Kong daily, the

South China Morning Post

, which welcomes the removal 

of "an archaic law, vestige of the British colonial regime which criminalized sexual relations between men

 ”.

It's about acknowledging current social mores

 ," the Prime Minister of Singapore argued, " 

although Singaporeans should be wary of the growing efforts of foreign influence

 ," he warned, emphasizing " 

that he would also continue to defend marriage as the union of a man and a woman

 ", reports the Chinese daily.

An important step in the recognition of the rights of homosexuals in the city-state, underlines for its part the

Guardian

, even if Singapore “ 

continues to censor all media and television content which promotes the “lifestyles” of the gay community

 “.

Boris Johnson is already missed by British Tory voters

“ 

Bring us back Boris

 ”, headlines the

Times

, which has conducted a vast study and a survey of Conservative voters, which shows that the latter who had nevertheless “ 

wanted the departure of the Prime Minister last July, are biting about it today fingers

 ” while the duo of pretenders to his succession “ 

Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss have not proven to the country that they would do better than Boris Johnson

 ”.

In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, Truss and Sunak “ 

unleash no enthusiasm

 ”, points out

the Times

, even worse, Tory voters blame them both “ 

for having seriously damaged the reputation of their party by ousting Boris Johnson before waging a fierce struggle to succeed him

 .

49% of Tory voters would prefer Johnson to remain in place, against 18% in favor of his replacement.

A little late, however, for regrets, Boris Johnson should leave his post in the coming weeks, and it is Liz Truss who is still ahead of Sunak in the polls to access Downing Street, notes for his part the 

Guardian

.

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