In the wake of the Anti-war Protests in Russia, I want to give a voice to the unheard
The unheard voices of the Oppositional parties in Russia... Yes, they exist
As thousands of Russians risk their livelihoods and jail time for protesting against the Invasion of Ukraine, we are starting to see a further crackdown on all oppositional parties in Russia. Starting with the removal of Oppositional parties’ websites, including any English-language press release sites and blogs.
Yabloko, a Socially Liberal and Socially Democratic party in Russia with a long-standing opposition to the Putin Regime with Activists up and down Russia has seen the Kremlin locking down their sites over the past couple of days. Due to Yabloko and their leader Nikolay Rybakov’s encouragement of Anti-war Protests.
The Kremin isn’t just targeting lefties either, PARNAS aka The People’s Freedom Party, a Centre-right Classically Liberal Party has also seen some pushback from the Kremlin over their Opposition to the Invasion, PARNAS’ Statement made yesterday on the situation in Ukraine:
Today, February 24, early in the morning, Putin announced a “special military operation in Ukraine.” The order was given to start massive rocket attacks, the troops crossed the state border. Putin demanded that the Ukrainians cease resistance and lay down their arms. Russia brought blood and death to the Ukrainian land.
For any normal person, it is obvious and indisputable that the Russian leadership did not have and does not have any legal, ethical and political grounds for unleashing a war. There were no threats to Russia’s security and there are none. Such a decision is illegal, criminal and beyond reason.
We condemn the actions of the Russian authorities and demand that they immediately cease hostilities and withdraw all troops from Ukrainian territory.
We urge citizens not to believe in the propaganda lies that the authorities use to justify the aggression. We call on citizens to realize our common responsibility for the criminal actions of our country, our responsibility for their consequences.
We say and call on the citizens of our country to say firmly “No to war! Hands off Ukraine!”
The Libertarian Party of Russia has also released their statement on the Invasion of Ukraine;
To all libertarians of the world
As you no doubt know from today’s news, February 24th, 2022, President Putin has commenced an aggressive war against Ukraine. No reason or justification was provided; perhaps, in his mind, none was needed. He treats Ukraine as a Russian colony. War, death and destruction are to be the cost of this delusion.
Putin started once as a popular politician who used divisive propaganda, militarism and election rigging to propel himself to power. He now is a tyrant who starts a major war in Europe in spite of everyone around him, contrary to public opinion and no doubt against at least a part of his own political and business elites.
This morning’s news was a shock to everyone. Anti-war sentiments are running high, online petition signatures to stop this are collected in hundreds of thousands and previously apolitical celebrities express outrage and disgust. Despite best propaganda efforts the war fails to achieve any significant popular support.
We understand the inevitable consequences brought upon us by this war and we support all efforts to stop it, including broad and harsh sanctions against persons responsible. Putin and his cronies must be forever proscribed from setting foot on any free nation’s soil. Their money must be found and frozen, the property they gained by corruption must be arrested everywhere in the world. Businesses owned and operated by them as quasi-private companies must be sanctioned as well. We not only understand but welcome it.
One thing we warn foreign decision makers against is a collectivist approach to sanctions. Russian people as a whole are not responsible for this atrocity and do not condone it. This is being perpetrated by individuals. And we ask that blame and punishment be meted out individually as well.
For example, here’s what Belgium’s asylum minister has said, according to Reuters: “At the moment, Russians are not welcome here, a general visa ban for Russians should not be a taboo.”
We humbly ask all friends of liberty to urge their governments to abstain from enacting such indiscriminate sanctions. This is a page from a Cold War communist playbook. Do not raise an Iron Curtain against us, do not rebuild the Berlin Wall. To do this would only discourage support for peace and foster enmity and opposition. Russian people do not deserve to be collectively punished for our tyrant’s inhumanity. Please find a way to allow individuals to travel, to promote peaceful cultural exchange and cooperation.
We call upon all friends of liberty around the world — libertarian parties, movements, foundations and individuals — to stand behind us in condemnation of this aggression. A moment has come for all people to unite against what may become the worst tragedy of this century. And right now, as always, peace is our best hope.
Alexey Navalny has also made his statement from within Prison;
Navalny stated that he is against this war and that:
“I think this war is designed to divert attention from Russia’s problems, and it will only lead to greater impoverishment”
“I consider those who unleashed this war to be bandits and thieves. I went into politics to fight this criminal regime of thieves.”
Navalny is currently locked in a make-shift Prison cell as the Kremlin work to extend his sentence by at least another 15 years.
I want to let the world know that, Russians did not vote for Putin. Putin is an Arrogant, Corrupt and frankly, Evil dictator who rigs elections in his favor, keeps himself in perpetual power, and most of Russia recognizes this fact and are powerless to improve the situation on their own. They do not live in a Democracy and should not be tarnished by the actions of their so-called “leaders”. If the Russian people speak out against Putin they risk either being assassinated or jailed, likely both.
We shouldn’t tarnish the reputations of Russian people just because they are in a Dictatorship. They are protesting, risking their lives to say their peace to try and fight for peace. What we should be doing is doing the same as them, especially if we live in Democratic countries and have the Freedom of Speech, to advocate not just for Ukraine, but to save the Russian people from Putin.
I’ll provide some links so that you can follow the Oppositional parties in Russia on the links that are still up and active at the time of writing this:
Yabloko Party: https://twitter.com/YablokoParty?s=20&t=BfeFsfbRSf-BR5v3i5ZKAg
PARNAS: https://parnasparty.ru/news/601
Libertarian Party of Russia: https://libertarian-party.ru/
About the Creator
Quaker-nomics
My name is Abe, I'm a 3rd year Business Economics student mainly specialising in Alternative Business structures like Co-operatives and Accessibility. I mainly write about Business, Politics, Sociology and some personal stuff.
He/him
Keep reading
More stories from Quaker-nomics and writers in The Swamp and other communities.
The UK Labour Party is in Denial about Scotland
The Labour Party in the United Kingdom has a long history, the party was founded as a representative of the Working-Class in the United Kingdom, following the kind of Two-party representation system where one party represents “Business” and the other represents the worker. It was founded roughly 50 years after the Chartist movement in the UK reformed the House of Commons making it more representative and much more Democratic. It sought to;
By Quaker-nomics2 years ago in The Swamp
Sukkot War
It was unexpectedly we were just going to a venue to hear a concert. And just in the beginning of it, we heard this loud sound. And everything was shaken, everything was sudden. Even the earth shaked like never before and exploded before us. People were running and scattering. People were screaming and running. People were no longer dancing and celebrating. And now the world was on Israel again, the world was focus on terrorism. And we were shakening as a nation, now realizing some of the victims of the terrorism as hostages were taken while others were killed suddenly. And families wanted answered and families wanted closure. Hostilities were rising and crises was evident. Our nation was in an uproar. And we wanted justice. We were refusing to back down because of all the bloodshed. The unnecessary bloodshed from an incident that should have never occurred. And as our nation moved more into the war, we saw justice. But we did not intend for the mass slaughter of more innocent lives. War is ugly. War is vicious. War is terrible. And many turning on us both friends and allies. Yet there were supporters some who knew what we were doing. We were trying to bring justice. We were trying to survive. We were trying to protect our future. And the darkness of war twisted our fate. It twisted our destiny. And as we further went into the war we were prevailing and becoming stronger each day. Why do these so-called warriors hide behind their people? Why do they hide in the hospitals? Why do they hide in the homes and tunnels? It becomes evident that they want to destroy no matter what. That they want to rid the world of us when they started this plot in the beginning. Did they not know that it would lead to this? Did they not know that it would accomplish more deaths? Yet they did not resist. They did not fight hatred but embrace hatred. And now we are in the midst of a humanitarian crisis. And hope seems fading. Hope seems fleeing. But we have to come together. We have to fight this with the rest of the world. We have to come together against death and hatred. We must begin to work together with the rest of the world. Terror cannot be fought alone. And the war deepens, the war rages and the war embolden. The terrorists' supporters cast a night of bombs over us. Just when negotiations have come to light, they seek to annihilate our people. But we were not alone, thank God, our allies came for us. Our allies bursted the bombs in the air. Our allies from Great Britain, our allies from America, and yes our allies from Saudi Arabia. We now realized that this fight against terror, this fight against hatred and this fight against death is gonna be won by justice. Even in our villages, our towns, and our cities which were terrorized by terrorists. Our people are not afraid anymore. Our people are brave. Our people are strong. Our people are willing to fight for life. They see danger as no more threat. They are willing to fight to preserve the land. And they walk without fear and they are against hatred and terror. Because they have become numb after decades of threats, hundreds of years of hatred, and centuries of humiliation. They are free. They walk proudly and they are unafraid. For instance, one of our brave women, who was fighting to keep her family safe. Who had no other alternative but to face her accusers and her attackers outside her home. She bravely stood against their guns no longer resisting, and the attackers walked away. That's how brave our people are and that's how much a people of faith we are. We will not back down any longer.
By Matthew Primous3 days ago in The Swamp
Cameron Will Not Agree to Proscribe IRGC as A Terrorist Group.
When David Cameron ended His political career He probably thought as did the rest of us, that was the end of His career. Cameron believed that the rest of His life would be memoirs, after dinner talks, and appearing with the UK's former Prime Ministers at ceremonies like the Cenotaph during 'Remembrance Sunday'.
By Nicholas Bishop3 days ago in The Swamp
Spectating
I can't imagine dying like this, in a place like this; on a cold, dirty pavement with rush hour traffic screaming by and a crowd looking on while paramedics struggle to find space to move. Who could? Deep down we all think there should be a reason, a moment of clarity... or a family presence, at least. For this man, this boy, the rail thin woman lighting a cigarette in a faux fur jacket will have to do - she's been here since the start, her eyes tracking the movement of my shoulders as we fight to keep him on the right side of the line.
By S. A. Crawford6 days ago in Fiction
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.