How Russia often benefits when Julian Assange reveals the West’s secrets

WikiLeaks’ document releases, along with many of Julian Assange’s statements, have often benefited Russia, at the expense of the West — whether by conviction, convenience or coincidence, writes the New York Times.

WikiLeaks neither targets not spares any particular nation, Assange indicated in an exchange with the US newspaper, but rather works to verify whatever material it is given in service of the public, which “loves it when they get a glimpse into the corrupt machinery that is attempting to rule them.”

But given WikiLeaks’ limited resources and the hurdles of translation, Assange said, why focus on Russia, which he described as a “bit player on the world stage,” compared with countries like China and the United States? In any event, he said, Kremlin corruption is an old story. “Every man and his dog is criticizing Russia,” he said. “It’s a bit boring, isn’t it?”