Russian diplomat Boris Bondarev resigned from his publish on the United Nations, saying he was "ashamed" of Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.
Boris Bondarev through AP
A veteran Russian diplomat to the UN Workplace in Geneva resigned Monday, writing in a bombshell letter that he felt “ashamed” to play a component in Russia’s “bloody, witless and completely useless” conflict in Ukraine.
Boris Bondarev, 41, who recognized himself on LinkedIn as a counselor at Russia’s everlasting mission to the UN engaged on arms management, advised Reuters that he arrived at work “like some other Monday morning,” tendered his resignation and walked proper out.
He then despatched an English-language letter to international colleagues, explaining his doubtlessly dangerous — if not unprecedented — transfer.
“For twenty years of my diplomatic profession I've seen completely different turns of our international coverage, however by no means have I been so ashamed of my nation as on Feb. 24 of this 12 months,” he wrote, referring to the date of Russia’s invasion.
“The aggressive conflict unleashed by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin in opposition to Ukraine, and actually in opposition to your entire Western world, is just not solely a criminal offense in opposition to the Ukrainian folks, but additionally, maybe most heinous crime in opposition to the folks of Russia, with a daring letter Z crossing out all hopes and prospects for a affluent free society in our nation,” Bondarev continued.
The ex-diplomat, whose profession included earlier postings in locations like Cambodia and Mongolia, confirmed he handed in his resignation in a letter addressed to Ambassador Gennady Gatilov.
“I began to think about this a number of years in the past however the scale of this catastrophe drove me to do it,” he advised Reuters of his choice to stop Russia’s diplomatic service.
He stated he had raised his issues in regards to the conflict in Ukraine with senior embassy workers a number of instances. “I used to be advised to maintain my mouth shut as a way to keep away from ramifications,” he stated.
In a separate interview with the AP, Bondarev stated his authorities’s actions had been “insupportable” to him.
“As a civil servant, I've to hold a share of duty for that, and I don’t wish to try this,” he stated.
He expounded on this concept additional in his take-no-prisoners parting letter, writing: “I studied to be a diplomat and have been a diplomat for twenty years. The (Russian international) ministry has turn out to be my house and household. However I merely can not any longer share on this bloody, witless and completely useless ignominy.”
Bondarev stated he had not acquired any response but from Russian officers, however added: “Am I involved in regards to the potential response from Moscow? I've to be involved about it.”
Requested if some colleagues felt the identical, he added: “Not all Russian diplomats are warmongering. They're affordable, however they should preserve their mouths shut.”
He recommended that Kremlin might select to make an instance out of him in a bid to dissuade different dissenters from following in his footsteps.
In his scathing assertion, which he stated he emailed to about 40 diplomats and others, Bondarev stated those that conceived the conflict “need just one factor — to stay in energy ceaselessly, dwell in pompous tasteless palaces, sail on yachts comparable in tonnage and value to your entire Russian Navy, having fun with limitless energy and full impunity.”
He railed in opposition to the rising “lies and unprofessionalism” within the Russian International Ministry and slammed International Minister Sergey Lavrov, who he stated in “18 years, … went from knowledgeable and educated mental … to an individual who consistently broadcasts conflicting statements and threatens the world (that's, Russia too) with nuclear weapons!”
“At present, the Ministry of International Affairs is just not about diplomacy. It's all about warmongering, lies and hatred.”
Bondarev stated he had no plans to depart Geneva.
Hiller Neuer, government director of the advocacy group UN Watch, known as Bondarev “a hero” for taking a public stand in opposition to his authorities.
“Bondarev must be invited to talk in Davos this week,” he added, “and the U.S., the U.Ok. and the EU ought to lead the free world in making a program to encourage extra Russian diplomats to comply with and defect, by offering safety, monetary safety and resettlement for diplomats and their households.”
With Publish wires
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