2024-03-30 13:47:51
“Two years ago, Vladimir Putin launched an unprovoked, full-scale aggression against Ukraine that resulted in the deaths and killings of countless people, numbers not seen since World War II. This war is accompanied by an increasingly brutal suppression of political life and freedom of speech in Russia itself,” the statement reads.
It is noted that recently the world was shocked by the death of V. Putin’s political opponent Alexei Navalny. It is emphasized that A. Navalny was previously poisoned with a chemical weapon, but he survived and returned to Russia, where he was detained, tortured in a detention center, and later killed.
The signatories believe that the war in Ukraine and the death of A. Navalny are not only related to Russia and Ukraine – the current Kremlin regime has shown that V. Putin poses a direct threat to all of humanity.
“Since coming to power in 2000 V. Putin systematically destroyed post-Soviet democratic institutions and incited conflicts in the former Soviet Union. The all-out aggression against Ukraine and the assassination of Alexei Navalny take this threat to a new level, as the Putin regime no longer sees any limits to its violations of human rights and international norms,” the statement said.
Nobel laureates remind: 20th century. the horrors of world wars have shown that humanity can avoid self-destruction only if the principles of democracy and international law are respected. However, the Kremlin has “cynically changed” these principles, and the Russian dictator makes a mockery of individual freedom and dignity.
According to the authors of the document, V. Putin turned Russia into an “extremely militarized police” state with the largest nuclear arsenal and threatening the existence of the entire world.
“We, scientists around the world, call on political leaders to speak up for peace, progress and human rights with all their might. As members of the international scientific community, we are deeply concerned that scientific progress is threatened by dictators who stifle intellectual freedom, especially when global cooperation is so important against the backdrop of pandemics, climate change and the existential threat of weapons of mass destruction,” said the laureates.
They urged world leaders to abandon any illusions about Putin and his regime, especially attempts to “pacify” him, as such practices lead to further crimes against humanity. The Nobel laureates emphasize that no temporary benefit can justify such crimes.
They are calling for a significant increase in aid to Ukraine so that it wins, not just “doesn’t lose”.
“Timely assistance to the Ukrainians will reduce the number of human casualties and help expel the aggressors from their land.” V. Putin’s failures during the military aggression will be perceived by millions of Russians as a moral victory, will strengthen their hopes for a democratic future and will mobilize the anti-war movement,” the appeal says.
Signed by 39 Nobel laureates, the appeal calls on the international community to unite and defend political prisoners, support anti-Putin organizations, including independent Russian media, and more.
2024-03-30 13:47:51