After the Russian attack, many athletes have shown solidarity with Ukraine in recent weeks. The Lithuanian swimmer Ruta Meilutyte has now attracted attention with a particularly creative type of protest.
To express her resistance, the 25-year-old swam through a lake in front of the Russian embassy in Lithuania as part of an art campaign. Activists had dyed the water blood red in an environmentally friendly way.
The protest was accompanied by a clear message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Putin, the Hague is waiting for you” (German: Putin, The Hague is waiting for you) had the participants visibly written on a street in front of the lake.
The International Criminal Court, which deals with the prosecution of war crimes, is located in The Hague. Serious reports are now increasing that the Russian army committed the most serious crimes against humanity during its war of aggression against Ukraine.
Meilutyte wrote on Twitter that the red pond should “underline Russia’s responsibility for the war crimes against the Ukrainians. We must not be stunned by the horrific images. The seemingly never-ending horror that Russia inflicts on Ukraine must not become the norm.” , she appealed.
With her swimming, meanwhile, she wanted to point out that “continuous efforts” were necessary to ultimately prevail against Russia and ensure justice.
Locally, the Olympic champion from London also called on other people to do more for Ukraine: “It is important that we continue to act – spreading truthful information, volunteering, protesting, donating and urging governments to act,” said Meilutyte.
It became particularly clear when looking at the German role in the conflict: “If countries like Germany don’t intervene and don’t impose appropriate sanctions against the aggressor and don’t put money before people, it’s difficult to have hope,” said the swimmer, who was born in Kaunas .