U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) published a response to the controversial New York Times op-ed written by Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pravda, an internet publication named after a popular Soviet Era newspaper, and told Russians they deserve better leadership, the Wall Street Journal reported.
In his piece titled "Russians Deserve Better Than Putin," McCain condemned Putin's suggestion of American exceptionalism and criticism of a U.S. intervention in Syria.
"I am pro-Russian, more pro-Russian than the regime that misrules you today," the Republican senator wrote. "They punish dissent and imprison opponents. They rig your elections. They control your media."
"President Putin doesn't believe in these values because he doesn't believe in you. He doesn't believe that human nature at liberty can rise above its weaknesses and build just, peaceful, prosperous societies. Or, at least, he doesn't believe Russians can. So he rules by using those weaknesses, by corruption, repression and violence. He rules for himself, not you," he said.
As he continued to criticize Putin, he made a point to emphasize his support for the citizens over their leader.
"When I criticize your government, it is not because I am anti-Russian," he said. "It is because I believe you deserve a government that believes in you and answers to you. And I long for the day when you have it."
McCain's article was published on Pravda.ru -- a website created in the 1990s -- as opposed to the original newspaper, which the decorated war veteran believed his response would be published in, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Putin, told media outlets that he was not suprised by McCain's article.
"It is a well-known fact that he is not a fan of Putin," Peskov said. "It is unlikely we will enter into any kind of debate, as this is the point of view of someone who lives overseas."
