39 Nobel laureates have signed an open letter to world leaders. They ask to support Ukraine and not to recognize Putin's presidency.
"Two years ago, Putin unleashed an unprovoked full-scale aggression against Ukraine, resulting in death and destruction not seen since World War II. This war has been accompanied by an escalating brutal suppression of political life and freedom of speech in Russia itself. Recently, the world was shocked by the death of Alexei Navalny, Putin's main political opponent. Before he was imprisoned, tortured and eventually killed, Navalny survived an attempted poisoning with chemical weapons orchestrated by the Putin regime. In spite of this terrible assassination attempt, he returned to Russia with unprecedented courage and patriotism.
The war in Ukraine and the murder of Alexei Navalny are not only about Russia and Ukraine.
Putin's regime has shown that it poses a direct and clear threat to all of humanity. Since coming to power in 2000, Putin has systematically destroyed post-Soviet democratic institutions and fomented conflict in the former Soviet Union.
The full-scale aggression against Ukraine and the murder of Alexei Navalny is a transfer of the threat to a new level, since the Putin regime no longer sees any restrictions when it violates human rights and international norms.
The horrors of the world wars of the twentieth century are a reminder that humanity can avoid self-destruction only if the principles of democracy and international human rights law are respected. Putin's regime has cynically trampled on them.
The tragedies of totalitarianism call for respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual. Putin openly mocks them. He has turned Russia into a highly militarized police state with the largest nuclear arsenal and a threat to the very existence of the world.
We, the scientists of the world, call on political leaders to speak out with all their strength for peace, progress and human rights. As members of the international scientific community, we are deeply concerned that scientific progress is threatened by dictators who suppress 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.
We call on world leaders and all people of good will to abandon any illusions about Mr. Putin and his criminal regime. History teaches us that appeasement of the aggressor leads to further crimes against humanity. No amount of temporary benefits can justify it. We are resolutely opposed to a repeat of Munich 1938!"
@freerussia_report
