13 March 2014

Russian authors, actors, critics, intellectuals – Russian intelligentsia—are gathering a Congress against war with Ukraine: ‘against war, against Russian isolationism, against the restoration of totalitarianism’. An open letter, with about 100 signatories, condemns the Russian government’s actions as ignoring international law and destroying principles of European security and stability. The letter states that Russia is sharply turned towards a new Cold War with the West, and the grave consequences of Russia’s actions are impossible to predict.  They are inviting Russians, as well as representatives of Ukraine’s intelligensia, to discuss the political situation. They aim to articulate their position against the war and to offer perspectives on a resolution which would allow Russia and Russians to look forward to a better future.

In Ukraine, a group of ‘Western-educated’ academics, Ukrainian nationals with doctoral degrees from Harvard, Columbia, Oxford and other internationally-renown universities, have formed a group to organise expertise and offer assistance to the new Ukrainian government.
Demonstrations continue throughout Crimea, including a massive student protest against Russian intervention in Simferopol. In Donestk protests—pro-Russian groups versus pro-Ukrainian groups— turned violent. One demonstrator, pro-Ukrainian, was killed. Many on both sides were injured.


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