We, writers and journalists of PEN Moscow, feeling ourselves to be hostages of the Russian authorities’ decisions on Ukraine, express our extreme concern at the politics of tearing away parts of Ukrainian territories and the Russian recognition of DPR and LPR separatist formations as independent states.
Following the inclusion of Crimea into Russian Federation, which caused an extremely negative international reaction, the Russian authorities continued the line towards the revival of the USSR, in this way surrounding itself by the detached satellites (Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Transnistria).
Every conflict on these territories has caused death of hundreds people,
losses of human connections, destruction of houses, losses of people’s property. This all has led to enormous human catastrophes and cultural disasters. This makes a significant threat to European peace.
The world is on the brink of global tragedy: a new conflict in the heart of Europe could lead to irreparable consequences and death of hundreds of thousands of innocent people. There can be no free and democratic Russia without an independent Ukraine.
We say “NO” to war!
Natalia Ivanova,
President of PEN Moscow Council
PEN Moskva: https://mailchi.mp/297e55062d06/pen-moskva-vi-fler-os-taget-som-gidsler?e=26d898e08a