Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev resigns over Ukraine invasion
Bondarev blasts ‘aggressive war’ unleashed by Russian President Vladimir Putin
23 May 2022 - 19:40
byEmma Farge
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Flags stand outside the UN building in Geneva, Switzerland. Picture: STEFAN WERMUTH/BLOOMBERG
Geneva — A Russian diplomat at the country’s permanent mission at the UN in Geneva said on Monday he was leaving his post because of his disagreement with Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, a rare political resignation over the war.
Boris Bondarev, a who identified himself on LinkedIn as a counsellor at Russia’s permanent mission to the UN who worked on arms control, said: “I started to imagine this a few years ago, but the scale of this disaster drove me to [resign].” He was referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24.
He said he had raised his concerns about the invasion with senior embassy staff several times. “I was told to keep my mouth shut to avoid ramifications,” he said.
There was no immediate comment from the Russian permanent mission to the UN.
Earlier, he announced his departure on LinkedIn.
“I studied to be a diplomat and have been a diplomat for twenty years,” Bondarev wrote. “The (Russian foreign) ministry has become my home and family. But I simply cannot any longer share in this bloody, witless and absolutely needless ignominy.”
He also criticised Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, who has been a staunch defender of Putin’s military operation: “In 18 years, he went from a professional and educated intellectual, whom many of my colleagues held in such high esteem, to a person who constantly broadcasts conflicting statements and threatens the world (that is, Russia too) with nuclear weapons!
“Today, the ministry of foreign affairs is not about diplomacy. It is all about warmongering, lies and hatred,” he added.
Ukraine had urged Russian diplomats to resign in a Human Rights Council debate in March. However, Bondarev said he did not expect others to follow. “I'm afraid I am the only one.”
Kira Yarmysh, the spokesperson of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, welcomed the resignation.
“It seems that there is only one honest person at the foreign ministry,” she wrote on Twitter.
Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in what it called a special operation to degrade its southern neighbour’s military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.
The West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia and provided Ukraine with military support in response.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev resigns over Ukraine invasion
Bondarev blasts ‘aggressive war’ unleashed by Russian President Vladimir Putin
Geneva — A Russian diplomat at the country’s permanent mission at the UN in Geneva said on Monday he was leaving his post because of his disagreement with Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, a rare political resignation over the war.
Boris Bondarev, a who identified himself on LinkedIn as a counsellor at Russia’s permanent mission to the UN who worked on arms control, said: “I started to imagine this a few years ago, but the scale of this disaster drove me to [resign].” He was referring to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24.
He said he had raised his concerns about the invasion with senior embassy staff several times. “I was told to keep my mouth shut to avoid ramifications,” he said.
There was no immediate comment from the Russian permanent mission to the UN.
Earlier, he announced his departure on LinkedIn.
“I studied to be a diplomat and have been a diplomat for twenty years,” Bondarev wrote. “The (Russian foreign) ministry has become my home and family. But I simply cannot any longer share in this bloody, witless and absolutely needless ignominy.”
He also criticised Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, who has been a staunch defender of Putin’s military operation: “In 18 years, he went from a professional and educated intellectual, whom many of my colleagues held in such high esteem, to a person who constantly broadcasts conflicting statements and threatens the world (that is, Russia too) with nuclear weapons!
“Today, the ministry of foreign affairs is not about diplomacy. It is all about warmongering, lies and hatred,” he added.
Ukraine had urged Russian diplomats to resign in a Human Rights Council debate in March. However, Bondarev said he did not expect others to follow. “I'm afraid I am the only one.”
Kira Yarmysh, the spokesperson of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, welcomed the resignation.
“It seems that there is only one honest person at the foreign ministry,” she wrote on Twitter.
Russia sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in what it called a special operation to degrade its southern neighbour’s military capabilities and root out people it called dangerous nationalists.
The West has imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia and provided Ukraine with military support in response.
Reuters
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