Statement by YABLOKO Chairman, 02/03/2014

The YABLOKO party condemns the decisions of the President of Russia and the Federation Council unleashing a war with a fraternal nation. Such developments will lead Russia to a national catastrophe and put the world on the brink of a nuclear war.

But even if Vladimir Putin has no intention to actually bring troops to Ukraine, these solutions will nevertheless lead to a sharp escalation of the conflict, including in the regions these decisions are allegedly aiming to “protect” in such a way, rather than stabilisation of the situation in Ukraine.

Russia must not contribute with its actions in the field of foreign policy to further aggravation of the situation in the neighboring country. Everything must be done so that to establish peaceful and constructive bilateral relations between Russia and Ukraine. An important step in this direction would be a formal recognition by the Russian Federation of Ukraine’s interim government formed by the now.

In case of such recognition, all the issues of protection of security and human rights in the territory of Ukraine can be resolved peacefully.

The territorial integrity of both our countries can not be questioned by any actions. In addition, Russia must abandon any actions of not only political, but also of economic and informational nature targeted at destabilisation of the situation in certain Ukraine’s regions and in the whole neighboring country in general.

We demand that the Council of the Federation must abrogate the provocative decision. We demand from Vladimir Putin to abandon the plans of a military invasion to the territory of Ukraine and to immediately begin peace talks with the new country’s leadership so that to assure the safety and rights of the Russian-speaking population.

Sergei Mitrokhin,

YABLOKO Chairman