Russian diplomat steps down in protest of attack in Ukraine

Through a rare but not unprecedented protest in the ranks of Russia's diplomatic body, 41-year-old Boris Bondarev resigned in a letter to Ambassador Gennady Strelov and continued to publish a sharp denouncing of Russia's war.

“Putin's aggressive fight in Ukraine and in fact against the entire Western world is not only a crime against Ukrainian people”, said Mr. Bondarev, “but it is probably also the worst crime against the people of Russia, with a black Z (representing support for the war) that wipes out all hopes and the prospect of a free and prosperous society in our country”.

Bondarev, who represented Russia in the UN office in Geneva for disarmament issues, said that the “at that conceived this war only wants one thing to stay in power forever, live in popular pompous palaces, sail on yachts that approach the cost and tone of all Russian navy together, taste unlimited power and impunity of the total”.

To achieve this”, says Mr. Bondarev, “a are ready to sacrifice as many lives as possible. Thousands of Russians and Ukrainians have already died only for this”.

He said that during nearly 20 years of working as Russian diplomat, among other things in the embassies in Cambodia and Mongolia, the <x0->level of lies and non-professionalism in the Foreign Ministry has been growing all the time.

Bondarev accused Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov of being “a good example of degrading this system”, as someone who has fallen “from being a professional intellectual and educated” who was highly regarded by his diplomatic colleagues at the level of “a person who constantly makes conflicting statements and who threatens the world (and Russia) with nuclear weapons!<5>

“Russia no longer has allies”, concludes it, “and no one can blame other than its dangerous and misunderstood policy... I can no longer take part in this bloody, thick, absolutely unnecessary shame”.

He added that, <x0 job options are welcome”.

Bondarev told the Associated Press news agency that he had not received any reaction from Russian officials, but added that “am I concerned about a possible reaction from Moscow? I need to be worried about this”.

Asked if other colleagues think the same way, he said that “not all Russian diplomats are war lovers. They're reasonable, but they have to keep their mouths shut”.

Russia has suppressed protests against aggression in Ukraine, arrested protesters who have taken to the streets, eliminated criticism in the media, and passed by law 15-year prison sentences for those who spread “false information” for the military attack, including in the case of war word use, instead of the term “special military operation”.