THERE IS NOTHING CERTAIN EXCEPT DEATH AND TAXES: So said (allegedly), Ben Franklin. But you know who would agree with him? Americans who are held hostage by foreign evil-doers. For example, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich who was released from Russian custody in August was warmly welcomed home by President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and the Internal Revenue Service, which reportedly billed him for taxes he failed to pay while in Putin’s prison. Fellow recently released prisoners Paul Whelan and Vladimir Kara-Murza were also hit with surprise tax bill according to an OPED in The Wall Street Journal by Senator Chris Coons of Delaware. This is not a new thing. Former Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian told NPR that after he was released following 544 days in Iranian custody – he received a bill for $6,000 in fees for unpaid taxes. Senator Coons has introduced legislation that would exempt hostages from tax liability and give IRS the authority to waive fines for late payment. Seriously, we need legislation for this? As Ben Franklin protégé Thomas Paine might say, this makes absolutely no Common Sense.
THESE UKRAINIANS ARE PATIENT: Our favorite clip of Russian State TV talking heads uncovered by Russia Media Monitor Julia Davis this week is one where a member of the Russian Duma, Yury Afonin, said he was pleased that Russia had invaded…umm…make that “launched a special military operation against” Ukraine because otherwise, he said the Ukrainians would have invaded Russian regions – something, according to him, they have been planning since 1918. Those guys in Kyiv must have a really long-term game plan. Lay low for a century or so and the Russians might not see them coming. (Some could argue they in fact didn’t see them coming in Kursk, just sayin.)
Access all of The Cipher Brief’s national security-focused expert insight by becoming a Cipher Brief Subscriber+ Member.
Sign Up Log In