That's certainly possible -- lawfare definitely happens in the West (Russiagate, anti-Corbynism and Lava Jato come to mind). But if it was simply about politic

That's certainly possible -- lawfare definitely happens in the West (Russiagate, anti-Corbynism and Lava Jato come to mind). But if it was simply about political maneuvering, death penalties are wasteful and severe. So that suggests that there is more to it.