In a remarkable appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, well-known peace activists from across Europe and beyond are calling for the release of Boris Kagarlitsky, a long-time peace campaigner.
The letter, sent to the Russian embassy in Berlin, underlines the profound ties between Europe and Russia and calls for a peaceful and demilitarized security architecture that includes Russia. The signatories vehemently defend the need for dialogue and the rejection of any form of demonization of Russia, while urging the release of Kagarlitzki as a symbol of peace and international cooperation.
Sign the petition here: https://freeboris.info/#letter
Letter
To the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin
Berlin, 2024 March 21st
Dear Mr. President,
We recognise that Europe’s history and culture is inextricably linked to that of Russia and cannot be separated – nor should it be. As long-standing peace activists working for a lasting international security architecture, we have always advocated the inclusion of Russia into a demilitarised European security environment. We also advocate the settlement of international disputes through peaceful means.
In recent years, under increasing pressure from within our Western countries, we have been resistant to the unacceptable demonization of Russia. It is a false dichotomy to suggest that there is a ‘good’ Western and Central Europe, and an ‘evil’ East.
As campaigners for peace, we are convinced of the inseparability of internal and external peace, while recognizing the respective security needs of all states involved. We are concerned with the universality of the UN Charter and the rights and democratic principles it contains.
Many of us have worked with Boris Kagarlitzki, for peace, for many years. Boris Kagarlitzki has consistently worked with us for the implementation of internationally recognized peace principles, arms control and disarmament as well as a European security architecture with the unconditional inclusion of Russia. Any form of terrorism has always been alien to Boris. He has always been concerned with diversity of opinion and open discourse as well as respect for Russian positions and convictions in all international debates.
That is why we can neither understand nor accept the judgment of the Court of Appeal.Driven by our conscience and concern for a longstanding colleague for peace, we urge you to do what you can to help ensure that Boris Kagarlitzki is released and can continue to work for global peace. Russia has established a firm place for itself within the framework of BRICS and BRICS+, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and in relation to various initiatives of the Global South for peaceful and just economic cooperation, which rightly receives much recognition. We believe that Boris Kagarlitzki’s release would be in keeping with the spirit of such initiatives.
We submit these remarks with the aim of developing and strengthening further forms of peaceful development. We formulate our request with regard to the judgment against Boris Kagarlitzki in the hope that you will receive it in a positive light.
In the hope of a speedy pardon. Yours sincerely,
Reiner Braun, International Peace Bureau (Germany) Ludo De Brabander, Vrede (Belgium)
Kate Hudson, Campagne for Nuclear Disarmament (UK)
Marienstraße 19/20, 10117 Berlin Germany
E-Mail: hr.braun@gmx.net
Cyrille Rolande Bechon (Kameron), Medea Benjamin (USA), Sophie Bolt (UK), Niamh Ni Bhriain (Irland) Tod Bjork (Sweden), Ingeborg Breines (Norway), Pere Brunet (Spain), Oleg Bodrow (Russia), Annette Brownlie (Australia), Mariella Correggia (Italy), Jordi Calvo Rufanges (Spain), Jeremy Corbyn (UK), Sevim Dagdelen, (Germany), Clare Daly (Ireland), Patrick Deboosere (Belgium), Lieven De Cauter (Belgium), Peter Degischer (Austria), Judith Dellheim (Germany), Steven De Vuyst (Belgium), Irene Gendzier (USA), Tica Font (Spain), Leo Gabriel(Austria), Joseph Gerson (USA), Lindsey German (UK), Ernest Gibson (Ghana), Susanne Grabenhorst (Germany), Corazon Valdez Fabros (Philippines), Ira Helfand (USA), Kristien Hemmerechts (Belgium), Linda Hugl (UK), Andrej Hunko (Germany), Jose Angel Ruiz Jimenez (Spain), Kees Kalkman (USA), Kristine Karch (Germany), Jan Kavan (Czech Republic), Assaf Kfoury (USA), Ulla Klotzer (Finland), Lea Launokari (Finland), Tomas Magnusson (Sweden), Josefa Maurer (Austria), Reger McKenzie (UK), Roger McKenzie (UK), Chloe Meulewaeter (Spain), Susan Mirsky (USA), Xema Moya (Spain), Michael Muller (Germany), Andrew Murray (UK), Chris Nineham (UK), Quique Sanchez Ochoa (Spain), Pere Ortega (Spain), Tony Palomba (USA), Thomas Pringle (Ireland), Mirek Prokeš (Czech Republic), John Raby (USA), Maria Reichl (Germany), Alain Rouy (France), Claire Shaffer-Duffy (USA), Mark Solomon (USA), Rae Street (UK), Matej Stropnicky (Czech Republic), Emily Rubino (USA), David Swanson (USA), Jasper Teunissen (Netherlands), Annie Tunnicliffe (UK), Carol Turner (UK), Tom Unterrainer (UK), Cornelia van der Ziel (USA), Guido van Leemput (Netherlands), Soetkin Van Muylem (Belgium), Mick Wallace (Ireland), Dave Webb (UK), Claudia Webbe (UK), Werner Wintersteiner (Austria), Lucas Wirl (Germany), Sofia Rose Wolman (USA), Ann Wright (USA)