British pacifists offer solidarity to threatened Russian anti-war activists
British pacifists offer solidarity to threatened Russian anti-war activists
British peace activists have warned that the Putin regime may use the Tatarsky killing as an excuse to arrest Russian opponents of the war in Ukraine.
Russian authorities announced this morning (3 April 2023) that they have arrested Darya Trepova, a 26-year-old Russian anti-war activist, on suspicion of blowing up pro-war blogger Vladlen Tatarksy.
In the UK, the Peace Pledge Union (PPU) said they continue to support Russian peace campaigners who are speaking out against Putin’s war in Ukraine. While adding that they could not comment on Trepova individually, they emphasised that the peace movement in Russia is actively nonviolent.
The PPU is the British section of War Resisters’ International (WRI), which also includes the Movement of Conscientious Objectors in Russia and the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement. The PPU condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine as soon as it began and has remained in contact with Ukrainian and Russian peace activists.
Well over 20,000 Russians have been arrested in the last year for campaigning against the war, although the precise figure is not certain.
The PPU continues to support the Russian anti-war movement along with civil resistance by Ukrainians in Russian-occupied areas. As well as condemning the Putin regime for starting the war in Ukraine, the PPU also speaks out against attempts by NATO, and NATO members such as the US and UK governments, to exploit the suffering of people in Ukraine to extend their own power.
“The Russian peace activists who are speaking out against Putin’s militarism are an inspiration to the world,” said PPU Campaigns Manager Symon Hill. “They need global support as Putin finds yet more excuses to arrest them.”
He added, “Opponents of war in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the UK, US or anywhere else have more in common with each other than with the governments, generals and arms dealers who are keen to send us to war.”