By Gloria Ogbonna
A senior envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin has taken a sharp jab at newly inaugurated New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, suggesting that the mayor’s collectivist vision of governance is a well-worn path with a troubled history.
The Russian official said Mamdani appears to be “doing a solid job steering the U.S. toward Communism,” a remark that quickly drew attention and controversy online.
Kirill Dmitriev, the chief executive officer of Russia’s $10 billion Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) and the Kremlin’s chief investment envoy to the United States, made the comments on X just one day after Mamdani’s inauguration.
Dmitriev has been described as a “key player” in discussions surrounding Moscow’s war in Ukraine, according to an Associated Press report published in November, giving his remarks added geopolitical weight.
The exchange was sparked by a clip from Mayor Mamdani’s inaugural remarks, in which he declared, “We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism,” as he addressed New Yorkers and outlined his governing philosophy.
Dmitriev reposted the video and responded with a pointed message: “Dear Comrade Mamdani — just a friendly reminder that this has been tried before.”
The post quickly circulated among American commentators and political influencers. Conservative influencer Ryan Saavedra shared a screenshot of Dmitriev’s response, describing it as the Russian envoy “dunking” on the new mayor. Dmitriev replied again, rejecting the framing and broadening his critique to what he called the Western left.
“Not dunking—just observing,” Dmitriev wrote. “Comrade Mamdani is doing a solid job steering the U.S. toward Communism. The EU & UK are already there. Which leaves Russia as the bastion not only of traditional values—but of capitalism—in this Bidenesque leftist woke world.”
Mamdani, who took his oath of office on the Islamic Quran during a private ceremony early Thursday morning, openly embraced his political identity during his inauguration. He pledged to govern New York City as a democratic socialist, signaling a sharp ideological shift for the nation’s largest city.
His rise has been celebrated by prominent figures on the American left. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), a fellow democratic socialist, spoke during Mamdani’s public inauguration ceremony, praising his victory and declaring that his leadership would usher in a “new era” for New York City.
Dmitriev’s remarks, while coming from a foreign official, have added fuel to the ongoing debate over socialism, collectivism, and the future direction of governance in major U.S. cities.
The unusual spectacle of a Kremlin-linked figure warning Americans about collectivism has underscored how Mamdani’s rhetoric is resonating far beyond New York—and even beyond U.S. borders.
Source Breitbrat
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