stop recognizing Vladimir Putin as “legitimate president” of Russia once the upcoming presidential electionsscheduled for next March, and search different interlocutorsboth among the civil society opposed to the war in Ukraine, and among the current Russian political elite. This is, in a few words, the proposal of a good number of Russian opposition forces abroad, you are receiving numerous supportsboth inside and outside the Russian Federation, and that seeks to isolate the Kremlin leader with the support of the EU and USA.
The text, initiated precisely by The Association of Free Russiansthe organization that brings together Russians opposed to the Putinist regime in Spain, has been taken over by organizations such as Open Russia, Digested by the former businessman and former politician Mikhail Khodorkovskyand stipulates a huge list of reasons why Vladimir Putin should not be recognized as legitimate president of Russia contained in resolution 2519 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) last October. Among them, the systematic falsification of the results in successive elections, the imprisonment or murder of political opponents, the closure either neutralization of independent media, the holding of elections in the snatched territories to Ukraine as a result of the war, voter intimidation in these regions with methods such as extortion wave threat or the manipulation of electoral rolls and the closure of electoral observation organizations. And, of course, the international accusation for war crimes launched by the International Criminal Court against the president.
“In the West, Putin is called ‘terrorist’he is accused of terrorizing the neighboring countrybut they continue to consider him the legitimate president“, he assures EL PERIÓDICO Anastasia Shevchenko, member of the Russian Anti-War Committee, emphasizing the contradiction that, in his opinion, both realities suppose. For Putin it is very important to “send the message” both inside and outside the country that he is the president.”legitimate, legal and elected for the people”, because he is a character “with a big ego“says the activist. However, the popularity figures offered by surveys carried out inside Russia, with an average of 75% support, “for a long time now” they have not responded to reality, considers Shevchenko. The initiative to not recognize him as legitimate president attempts precisely to demonstrate that he is not a popular president, he concludes.
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According to the text of the document that is circulating, the Russian opponents They propose to “interrupt all types of contact” with Putin with only two caveats: eventual “peace” negotiations or talks “for humanitarian purposes.” Shevchenko believes that this would help recognize that Putin “is not equivalent to Russia,” which would leave room for sectors of the society members of the Russian elite opposed to the war and members of the elite also opposed to the conflict to express themselves. “Putin must be avoided; in order to open cracks in the elite, we need Europe’s help,” she notes.
More than 6,000 people have signed the statement, prepared with the help of Russian lawyers and experts in international law. It has already been translated into several languages, and has received the support of the main political leaders opposed to Putin and important representatives of the artistic world, among them, a well-known rapper and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, member of the musical group Pussy Riot. But the largest group comes precisely from the interior of the country, which fills the community with hope. russian opposition. “It is dangerous,” but “many people” from within Russia have signed reporting their place of residence, “MoscowSaint Petersburg…”, explains the activist.