Alexei Navalny called on supporters to come out to daily protests against the “special military operation” in Ukraine. As indicated on his Instagram, he addressed the message not only to Russians but also to residents of other countries.
“Let’s at least not become a nation of frightened silent people. Cowards who pretend not to notice the aggressive war unleashed by our obviously insane czar against Ukraine. I cannot, do not want and will not be silent, watching how pseudo-historical nonsense about the events of 100 years ago became an excuse for Russians to kill Ukrainians, and those, defending themselves, killed Russians, ”the politician believes.
The politician urged to go to the main squares of cities every weekday at 19.00 and at 14.00 on weekends and holidays.
Earlier, several public organizations have already announced anti-war actions. Deputy chairmen of the People’s Freedom Party (PARNAS) Andrei Zubov and Mikhail Shneider, leader of the Decommunization movement Dmitry Tsorionov (Enterio) and political activist Aleksey Minyailo filed a notification with the Moscow Mayor’s Office to hold a “Peace March” on March 5 for 150,000 people.
“Delay or lack of response can lead to irreversible consequences. Muscovites and civil society, in general, can and should influence the decisions of the country’s leadership. Considering the emergency situation and the threat of war, we ask you to coordinate the event, ”the application says.
The organizers were denied due to the “epidemiological situation” and anti-covid restrictions. However, they hope to submit a new application by March 13 or 19.
Speaking on February 24 at the next visiting session of the Lefortovo Court of Moscow in the case of fraud and contempt of court, Navalny made an appeal on the situation with Ukraine.
“I am against this war. I believe that this war between Russia and Ukraine was unleashed to cover up the robbery of Russian citizens and divert their attention from the problems that exist inside the country, from the degradation of the economy. This war will lead to a huge number of victims, ruined destinies, and the continuation of this line towards the impoverishment of the citizens of Russia, ”the politician said. He asked that his words about the war be recorded in the minutes.
Anti-war rallies on March 6 were announced by the Eighth Initiative Group, Feminist Anti-War Resistance, and Social Fem Alternative.
On March 12, the anti-war march was planned by the Yabloko party – it submitted a notification to the Moscow mayor’s office about holding a march of 30,000 people. On the same day and at the same time – from 14.00 to 19.00 – nationalist organizations plan to hold a “March in support of the Russian army”.
The topic of the anti-war rally in Yabloko’s application is listed as “an expression of Muscovites’ attitude towards a special military operation.”
Earlier, Yabloko applied for anti-war actions in the regions, but the picket was held only in Chelyabinsk.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, commenting on anti-war actions and calls for them, said that all “attempts to organize street riots” would be consistently suppressed.
“There are continuous ddos attacks on the websites of organizations and institutions. Hackers broadcast slogans against our country from hacked sites and call to take to the streets. There is a real psychic information attack on the phones of citizens. Behind all this are professionals and large system structures. And all this is happening against the backdrop of economic sanctions, which are directed not so much against the security of the state as against ordinary citizens,” the Moscow mayor said.
According to Sobyanin, the actions “are aimed at undermining the city’s governance and creating an atmosphere of chaos” and compared them with the January events in Kazakhstan. “They are trying to split us, oppose, shake us up, quarrel. Nothing will come of it,” Sobyanin concluded.
News courtesy: Moscowtimes