Russian Liberals slam Putin’s intervention in Ukraine
Liberal International, Monday 3 March 2014
“Our country will remain alone, without allies, labelled as an aggressor and condemned by the whole world”, said Sergei Mitrokhin, Chairman of LI full member Yabloko, as Russian President Vladimir Putin violated international law by sending Russian troops into neighbouring Ukraine.
In a statement released as tensions mounted, Mitrokhin unequivocally explained: “We believe that Russia must refrain from any actions of political, economic and informational nature targeted at destabilization of the situation in some regions of Ukraine and throughout its territory. All the issues of protection of the rights of the Russian-speaking population can be resolved peacefully.”
Adding to the denunciation of the Russian premier’s actions, the prominent Ukrainian-born Russian economist, Grigory Yavlinsky, who is also a founder and one of the leaders of Yabloko and LI Prize for Freedom laureate, derided Putin’s move as “a gross political error entailing extremely dangerous consequences.”
Citing Putin’s refusal to negotiate with the government formed in Kiev after ousted President Viktor Yanukovich absconded, Yavlinksy said: “Russia’s political leaders are seeking further destabilization of the situation aiming at positioning Ukraine as a “failed state” and abolishing its obligations on maintaining the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”
** UPDATE **
The Russian Army has poured troops across the border into Crimea – exceeding the agreed number of troops set out in a military agreement between Russia and Ukraine. LI Vice President on the Bureau, Markus Löning, has called on the European Union (EU) to act decisively to turn back the Russian advance. Commenting on his social media, VP Löning, who is the former German Commissioner for Human Rights, said: “Do we as the EU stand for Freedom and Democracy or for cowardice and natural gas?”
“The EU (but also the Ukraine) have through years of hesitation, tactics and ambiguity opened a space in which Putin is now advancing. After the Ukrainian population has successfully risen against autocracy and corruption, we must at least now clearly and decidedly support [Ukraine].”
Posted: March 2nd, 2014 under Russia-Ukraine relations, YABLOKO and the International Liberal Family.