A Russian diplomat has resigned in protest of President Vladimir Putin’s “bloody, witless” campaign
A Russian diplomat has resigned in protest of President Vladimir Putin’s “bloody, witless” campaign against Ukraine.
Boris Bondarev, who served at the Russian UN office in Geneva, told the BBC that he was aware that speaking out may lead to him being labeled a traitor by the Kremlin.
He stuck by his statement, which called the war a “crime against the Ukrainian people” as well as “the Russian people.”
Moscow has yet to respond.
Russia has retaliated against individuals who question or contradict the official narrative of the conflict, which it describes to merely as “a special military operation.” Mr Bondarev stated in a letter shared with fellow diplomats on social media.
This resignation letter was particularly harsh.
Boris Bondarev, a Russian diplomat, was forthright in his criticism of President Putin, Foreign Minister Lavrov, and Russia’s offensive in Ukraine. “The most serious crime… the aggressive war… Warmongering, deception, and hatred…” Such statements from a Russian official are unusual.
There have been few signs of open protest in Russian state institutions in the three months since Vladimir Putin initiated his “special military operation” in Ukraine (what the rest of the world refers to as Russia’s war).
Is it humiliating for the Russian authorities?
They try to portray the US government as totally supporting President Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine.
However, one resignation does not imply that many more will follow. Mr Bondarev told the BBC that he had “not seen any other option” but to resign: “I don’t think it will change a lot, frankly, but I think it may be one small brick into the larger wall that would eventually be created.”
I hope so.”
Mr Bondarev said that his colleagues greeted the invasion with “cheer, excitement, and euphoria” since Russia had “taken some drastic actions.” “Now they’re less satisfied with that,” he told the BBC, “because we’re having some challenges, first and foremost with the economy.”
“However, I don’t think many of them will repent and change their minds.”
“They might become a little less radical, a little less forceful.”
“But not in a peaceful manner,” he added.
