Lev Shlosberg ‘s Telegram blog post, 10.11.2024

Photo from social media

18+ НАСТОЯЩИЙ МАТЕРИАЛ (ИНФОРМАЦИЯ) ПРОИЗВЕДЕН И РАСПРОСТРАНЕН ИНОСТРАННЫМ АГЕНТОМ ЛЬВОМ МАРКОВИЧЕМ ШЛОСБЕРГОМ ЛИБО КАСАЕТСЯ ДЕЯТЕЛЬНОСТИ ИНОСТРАННОГО АГЕНТА ЛЬВА МАРКОВИЧА ШЛОСБЕРГА

18+ THE PRESENT MATERIAL (INFORMATION) IS PRODUCED AND DISTRIBUTED BY FOREIGN AGENT LEV MARKOVITCH SHLOSBERG OR CONCERNES THE ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN AGENT LEV MARKOVITCH SHLOSBERG

On the morning of 4 September, Ksenia Sobchak called me, saying she’d received a message from Alexander Nikolayevich Sokurov saying “every word hits the mark,” along with a link to Oleg Kashin’s interview with me on his YouTube channel. Ksenia had watched the video and told me that my stance represented the views of many people in Russia who are currently forced into silence. She proposed meeting in Pskov to discuss this perspective, the work of Pskov’s Yabloko team, the current state of Russian politics, the “party of foreign blood,” the country, and its future.

Ksenia and her team came to Pskov on 23 September. All the filming took place in one day, with no additional footage shot afterward. At that time, we had no knowledge of the criminal case being prepared against me, the upcoming searches, or other events that took place in October.

After the criminal case was opened, Ksenia called again to discuss whether to release the material, given the circumstances. I told her I saw no reason to retract anything I had said. On 8 November, the piece titled “Lev Shlosberg: Why It Matters that Politicians Stay in Russia” was published on the “Ostorozhno, Sobchak” channel. Everything I, Zhanna, and my colleagues from Pskov Yabloko said in that piece aligns with what was discussed in Pskov on 23 September.

I am willing to speak with anyone who values peace and freedom, and even with those immersed in hatred and anger, though I know many of them aren’t ready to listen or understand. This means the time for understanding hasn’t yet come. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t speak. Words can endure, advancing step by step, and save lives. It’s essential to speak; it’s essential to keep moving forward.

I have no enemies in Ukraine, even if some Ukrainians disagree with me, with many outright rejecting my position. Nor do I have enemies in Russia, despite individuals who wish me harm and pursue me to take away my freedom. An enemy is someone I would take up arms against – I see no such people in Ukraine or Russia. I am not prepared to kill anyone over our beliefs.

I am not entrenched in any side – neither Russian nor Ukrainian, nor the trenches of propaganda. In a trench, one sees only an enemy. From there, a person views the closest world through a weapon’s scope, with the primary task of killing before being killed. The trench itself dehumanises you.

I despise virtual trenches and consider their inhabitants cowards and scoundrels. Those who do not risk their own lives have no moral right to call for the death of others in the name of anything. In virtual trenches, you’ll only find rats.

I reject war as a tool of politics. War is always man-made, arriving as the bankruptcy of politics and politicians. A politician must do everything possible, even at the risk of their own life and power, to prevent war. Peace is worth any sacrifice, while war deserves only condemnation. All wars are cursed from their inception.

All those who die in war are victims of war. No one’s fate includes death in battle. The victims of war cry out not for its continuation, but for its end.

I love life and people. I am ready to speak with everyone who values life and rejects the need for death. I am prepared to speak with all who have yet to understand the horror of war as a concept – with everyone who wants to live.

I love my country, and it pains me to see the suffering, agony, and despair of people in Russia. I live alongside these people. They are my people.

It also pains me to witness the gloating, bloodthirstiness, and hatred within my country. Dehumanisation is the quickest path to national degeneration. I want to reawaken in people the appreciation for human life. Killing is the quickest path to vengeance and hatred, and hatred kills. I fight for all lives, against death.

The words of humanity can stop war.