--- title: "Russian Space Boss Mocked for Accusing Journalist of War Crimes" description: "Russia's space agency head Dmitry Rogozin butted heads with Ars Technica senior space reporter Eric Berger on Twitter again. Things got heated." date: "2021-09-14" modified: "2021-09-14" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/head-russian-space-program-accuses-journalist-war-crimes" categories: - "Off-World" - "Space" tags: - "dmitry rogozin" - "Roscosmos" - "Russia" --- # Russian Space Boss Mocked for Accusing Journalist of War Crimes ![Russia's space agency head Dmitry Rogozin butted heads with Ars Technica senior space reporter Eric Berger on Twitter again. Things got heated.]() *\Image: Alexander RyuminTASS via Getty Images\* It's no secret that Russia's space agency head Dmitry Rogozin is a bit of a character. From offering SpaceX CEO Elon Musk a [cup of tea]() earlier this month to calling Venus a "[Russian planet]()," or [likening the country's Soyuz rocket]() to a Kalashnikov, Rogozin isn't afraid to speak his mind. Today, Rogozin is back at it — and this time, he stirred the pot by calling mild-mannered *Ars Technica* senior space reporter Eric Berger a war criminal. Yes, seriously. Here's what went down. First, Berger [wrote a story]() speculating about why Rogozin might be so persistent in his requests for Musk to visit him at home. The space chief invited Musk to his home "to be a guest of my family," according to an extremely rare [*CNN* interview]() on September 7, to discuss anything from "exploring the universe" to "extraterrestrial life." In short, Berger argued in his piece that the space chief desperately wants Russia's plans to [shoot a movie on board the International Space Station]() to be a success. Rogozin wants Musk to "attract the glitz and attention Rogozin so desperately craves as he seeks to craft an image of the Russian space program that is more Hollywood than Potemkin village," Berger wrote. Besides, Berger notes that Russian operatives have poisoned at least one of their adversaries using tea before — making his offer to Musk all the more ominous. So grab the popcorn, because the tweets got pretty spicy. "Only a poisoned soul can be worse than polonium," Rogozin [shot back]() at Berger, referring to a substance [infamously used to poison]() Alexander Litvinenko, a former KGB officer who fled to the UK in 2000. Was that a threat? Rogozin doesn't seem to think so. "First learn English, then you will be clever," Rogozin [replied]() in Russian to a Twitter user who [pointed out]() that a government official may have just aimed a direct threat at a US journalist. Even more strangely, Rogozin also [tweeted]() that "it is strange that no sanctions were imposed against you for your invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq and the destruction of Libya," after Berger [pointed out]() Rogozin wasn't able to travel to meet Musk at SpaceX's facilities in Texas due to US sanctions over the Russian invasion of Crimea. In other words, Rogozin appears to have accused an American journalist of invading Afghanistan and Iraq. Needless to say, we're not aware of Berger ever having invaded either country. "Propaganda journalists bear no less responsibility than politicians," Rogozin [shot back]() after another Twitter user [pointed out]() that high ranking Russian government officials may be more responsible for invading foreign countries than mere journalists. "He writes not about space technology, but about space politics," a [fuming Rogozin wrote]() in Russian. "Read his articles. Typical American propagandist." The space community reacted with bemusement and mild alarm. "Nothing to see here, just very normal tweets from the head of the Russian space agency," freelance space journalist Jonathan O'Callaghan [chimed in](). To be clear, making thinly veiled threats at journalists is a serious matter. With accusations flying on Twitter, it's hard to comprehend why a man of Rogozin's rank would wade into the debate. One thing's for sure: watching these disputes unfurl on the platform is entertaining as hell. When asked whether Berger is on Rogozin's reading list, the official [replied](): "not anymore." **READ MORE:** [Here’s why Russia’s space chief keeps asking Elon Musk to visit him]() \[*Ars Technica*\] ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()