13 august 2022
We are closely following the news on the proposed visa bans for citizens of the Russian Federation and the discussion going on about it.
First of all, we as FreeRussiaNL would like to make it clear that our humanitarian work remains the same - we will continue to provide all assistance to Ukraine, the country defending itself in this murderous war unleashed on it by the Russian regime. We fully understand the feelings and emotions of Ukrainians and of President Zelensky. They face every day what we can hardly imagine in our worst nightmares.
We also understand the position of the countries that border Russia and want to protect their borders. Russia has become a terrorist state, killing hostages at home as well as people in other countries. The desire to defend oneself against it is natural.
We, our community, live in the Netherlands, a country whose social structure and statehood are based on humanistic values and respect for human life. We share these values. We are against inciting hatred and dividing people in any way, including on the basis of nationality.
These are the values that also guide the activists of the anti-war movement in Russia. Because of the new Iron Curtain, unprecedented repressions and censorship, the voices of these Russians are often not heard, but they do exist. These people did not choose the current regime, their country of birth or passports nor did they have a choice of a nationality. Many of them are now risking their freedom and their lives by doing everything in their power to stop the war. The situation in Russia today is such that even "public prisoners" (such as Alexei Navalny, Sasha Skochilenko, Alexei Gorinov, Ilya Yashin, Vladimir Kara-Murza) face torture and health risks.
For ordinary activists who are not in the public eye the danger is many times higher.
Anti-war activity and activists are focused on European values and are fighting for the day when Russia will become a modern European country, safe for its own citizens and for other countries.
This is why the European Union's response to the proposed nationality-based visa ban is so important for anti-war activists and campaigners. Propaganda in Russia has long exploited claims of "Russophobia" and human rights abuses in Europe. Even serious consideration of such visa bans will confirm their propagandistic claims and demotivate and discourage anti-war initiatives inside and outside Russia.
One of our activities is to support anti-war movements and therefore we are deeply concerned about initiatives that could harm them.
We call on Western society, European leaders and citizens to not punish those who oppose the regime for those who are guilty of war crimes.
FreeRussiaNL community