Boris Vishnevsky on Vladimir Putin’s article “On the historical unity of Russians and Ukrainians” of July 2021, and the Russian parliamentary elections of 2021 as a lost chance to prevent the 24th of February
Boris Vishnevsky’s Telegram Channel VishNevskoyoeVremya, 12.07.2022
Photo: Vladimir Putin is looking at the map titled «Russia and neighboring countries». August 11, 2006 // REUTERS/ITAR-TASS/KREMLIN’S PRESS OFFICE
Exactly one year ago, on 12 July, 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin published an article “On the historical unity of Russians and Ukrainians”.
It actually denied Ukraine’s right to statehood and sovereignty.
It stated that the Ukrainian state had no right to a significant part of its territories, which were the “historical territories” of Russia, the latter had been “robbed” of them at one time.
It stated that the Ukrainian state was not independent, but was under “external control” by the West.
This article announced what later started on 24 February, 2022. Nothing was hidden. Anyone who wanted to could see it.
A week later, the founder of Yabloko, Grigory Yavlinsky, replied to this article, analysing in detail the fundamental fallacy of its provisions.
Yabloko led its entire 2021 [parliamentary] election campaign as an anti-war party, desperately trying to reach out to society with this stance.
We were not heard: the majority of the democratic public was enthusiastically discussing at that time how to “smartly” support [pro-Putin’s political parties] the communists, Fair Russia for Truth or the New People in order to annoy [the ruling] United Russia.
After the elections, on having got into parliament, everyone who was “smartly” supported, merged with United Russia into a common choir supporting Putin in all his undertakings and voting for all repressive laws.
And then came the 24th of February.
True, Yabloko’s presence in parliament might not have prevented this development.
But it would definitely be someone who could say “no!” during voting.
And now there is no one to do it.
Source: https://t.me/visboris/9148
BORIS VISHNEVSKY
is Deputy Chairman of the Yabloko Party, member of the Yabloko Federal Political Committee and Bureau, and an MP of the Yabloko faction in the Legislative Assembly of St. Petersburg
Posted: July 19th, 2022 under Elections, Foreign policy, Regional and Local Elections, Russia-Eu relations, Russia-Ukraine relations, State Duma Elections, State Duma Elections 2021, YABLOKO's faction in St.Petersburg Legislative Assembly, Без рубрики.