.""For me, it is on the side of my brothers who were attacked by my other brothers," Smolyaninov said.
The Grand Kremlin palace, left, and the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Moscow, Russia, on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2022. Russia announced the start of a pullback of some forces after drills that raised U.S. and European alarm about a possible military assault on Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday welcomed a probe against Smolyaninov, noting that it is"important that our relevant bodies think about these remarks."The probe against Smolyaninov comes amid increasingly harsh rhetoric about Russians who left the country because of the war. Lawmakers have suggested seizing the property of those who moved abroad, or increasing taxes for those who continue to work remotely for Russian companies.