Get this. Putin has signed a decree stating that the sale of Alaska to the United States was illegitimate, and Russia now regards it as "occupied Russian territory". The next Crimea. Here we go.
@TwiHusband Wait, we can get rid of 2 GOP senators and Sarah Palin? #politics
@sfleetucker @TwiHusband @gemswinc
This has been a thing for many Russians since the US "took" Alaska from them.
The tl;dr as best I remember it: Officials in both countries signed a treaty leasing Alaska to the US for (I forget how many) years. When the time was up, the original signatories were all dead, and the US just kept the land.
Source: oldest son was originally from Russia, came to the US as a teen, and he told me about this years ago.
@Tarnagh The Department of State maintains that it was a straight up sale. No lease involved. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/alaska-purchase#:~:text=The%20purchase%20of%20Alaska%20in,in%20the%20Asia%2DPacific%20region. @sfleetucker @gemswinc
@TwiHusband @sfleetucker @gemswinc
I'm aware. That's not what Russians believe/have been told.