On May 27th, Communist lawmakers in Russia's far east Primorye region expressed their disagreement over the imperialist war in Ukraine and called President Vladimir Putin to end the military campaign (read here).
We demand the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. We demand an end to military action”, legislative assembly member Leonid Vasyukevich had said during a session. Vasyukevich, member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) back then, said continuing Russia’s three-month campaign in Ukraine “would lead to an imminent increase in military deaths and injuries.” "During a military operation, people become disabled. These are young people who could be of great use to our country," he added.
We demand the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. We demand an end to military action”, legislative assembly member Leonid Vasyukevich had said during a session. Vasyukevich, member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) back then, said continuing Russia’s three-month campaign in Ukraine “would lead to an imminent increase in military deaths and injuries.” "During a military operation, people become disabled. These are young people who could be of great use to our country," he added.
Back then, both Vasyukevich and his colleague Gennady Shulga, were immediately ejected from the Legislative Assembly and threatened with “harsh measures” for speaking out against the war.
As Moscow daily Kommersant newspaper writes in a recent report, on July 22nd the Frunzensky District Court of Vladivostok in far eastern Russia found the deputy of the Legislative Assembly of the Primorsky Territory Leonid Vasyukevich guilty of discrediting the armed forces of the Russian Federation and fined him 30,000 Rubles (about 500 euros)! Following the verdict, Vasyukevich stated that he would wait for the written version of the verdict and then decide on an appeal to the next higher instance.
The CPRF not only distanced itself from Vasyukevich but managed to express, once more, its allegiance with the government. "The official position of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation is that we support the actions of our armed forces to denazify Ukraine," First Secretary of the Regional Committee Anatoly Dolgachev told Kommersant.
Apparently, in capitalist Russia, under Mr Putin's administration, appealing for peace is considered a misdemeanor that has to be punished.