State media say Donald Trump should seek asylum in Russia to avoid prosecution

The outgoing president is facing multiple investigations by prosecutors, and has voiced his concern at the prospect of being indicted

Russia-1 network host Olga Skabeeva said Trump’s predicament was ‘very serious’ and therefore he should consider asylum in Russia

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US President Donald Trump. Photo: Reuters

Published: 8:54pm, 10 Dec 2020Updated: 8:54pm, 10 Dec 2020

Russian state media are suggesting that President Donald Trump should seek asylum in their country to avoid getting prosecuted when he leaves the White House, The Daily Beast reported.

Trump, who is to leave office on January 20, 2021, and his organisation are the subject of multiple active investigations by prosecutors in New York and Washington, DC, that span potential tax fraud and alleged sexual assault.

Olga Skabeeva, who hosts the “60 Minutes” show on the state-owned Russia-1 network, said on December 3 that Trump’s predicament was “very serious” and therefore he should consider asylum in Russia.

Igor Korotchenko, a Russian military expert who sits on the defence ministry’s public council, said on the same show: “Russia can offer political asylum to the persecuted former president of the United States, Donald Trump.”

“But let him not simply arrive to Rostov or elsewhere, but also transfer his capital here and finally build his famous Trump City somewhere in our New Moscow,” he added.

Trump is popular in Russia and is often referred to by state media as “our Donald,” “Trumpusha,” and “Comrade Trump,” according to The Daily Beast.