Somebody is mailing a suspicious powder to embassies throughout Moscow, posing as a prominent lawmaker

If you work at an embassy in Moscow, think twice before opening a letter addressed from State Duma deputy Sergey Zheleznyak. Posing as the deputy secretary of United Russia’s General Council, somebody has been mailing envelopes containing a suspicious powder to embassies throughout Russia’s capital. According to the news agency TASS, at least 13 embassies have been targeted, so far. Police say the powder is harmless, but you’d be wise not to eat it (obviously) — sources tell Interfax that it’s insect poison.

What’s so special about Zheleznyak?

Sergey Zheleznyak, who categorically denies any involvement in the threatening letters, serves on the State Duma’s committee on international affairs. He’s also been blacklisted by the United States and European Union for his role in Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

This all sounds a bit familiar...

In 2001, after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., American post offices received several envelopes containing anthrax spores, killing five people and hospitalizing another seventeen. Around the same time, several U.S. politicians and state officials were repeatedly sent letters containing ricin(perhaps you’ll recall the role this poison played in the TV series “Breaking Bad”), though no one was reportedly harmed.