A Russian diplomat announced his resignation at the UN office in Geneva on Monday with a highly unusual statement. Boris Bondarev stated in his letter of resignation that he was ashamed of his country, which was simply spreading “belligerents”.
As reported by Reuters and Associated Press (AP) news agencies, Bondarev has already informed UN Ambassador Gennady Gatilov of his withdrawal. The executive director of the UN-Watch organization had previously published an alleged photo of Bondarev’s statement about the resignation, which has since been circulating on social networks.
In it, Bondarev declared his resignation not only from his post in Geneva, but from the entire diplomatic service of his country.
Attack on Ukraine was the last straw
“In 20 years of my diplomatic career I have seen many twists and turns in our foreign policy,” the AP quoted Bondarev’s statement as saying, “but I have never felt more ashamed of my country than I was on February 24 of this year.”
This is the day Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. The resignation letter was sent yesterday, the agency said.
“Crimes against the Ukrainian people”
“The aggressive war that Putin has unleashed against Ukraine and in fact against the entire Western world is not just a crime against the Ukrainian people,” the UN Watch letter reads. He is a serious crime against the Russian people and “knew all our hopes and prospects for a prosperous and free society in our country.”
War as pure selfishness?
The letter accused the Russian decision-makers of starting the war solely out of self-interest. They wanted to “stay in power forever, live in luxurious, tacky palaces” and “enjoy unlimited power and complete impunity.” For this, they are willing to sacrifice as many lives as the goal requires: “Thousands of Russians and Ukrainians have already died for this.”
“I was told to shut up”
The resignation is a rare, if not unprecedented, admission of dismay at the war from Russian diplomats, the AP report said. Bondarev told Reuters that he had repeatedly expressed concerns about the invasion to senior officials. “I was told to keep my mouth shut to avoid repercussions.”
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
