Lyudmila Alexeyeva: Annexation of Crimea cast shame on my country

Veteran human rights defender Lyudmila Alexeyeva has issued a statement following claims that she gave an interview expressing approval of Russia’s annexation of the Crimea. 

“I have said on many occasions and repeat that I am convinced the seizure of Crimea cast shame on my country.  It was a disgraceful act in respect to brotherly Ukraine which is going through difficult times. A good neighbour should help their neighbour to get through difficulties and not use them to benefit at their expense. People should behave like this and countries. In the modern world it is shameful and stupid to be an occupier. You need to reach agreement, not fight.

NO less than before Ukraine, we are guilty with respect to the Crimean Tatars, the indigenous people of the Crimea. They have every reason to not wish to be in Russia which is the successor to the USSR where in 1944 on Stalin’s order, they experienced a terrible tragedy – the exile of the entire people from the Crimea to the eastern Soviet republics.

I am a Russian citizen and I cannot waive responsibility for the behaviour of my country, both with respect to its neighbours and to its own citizens.

I demand that all publications that published, even if referring to other sources, information claiming that I support ‘Crimea is ours’ remove this false information and publish my statement. I am warning that I will take any that do not comply with this demand to court for defamation and libel.

http://m.echo.msk.ru/blogs/detail.php?ID=1395236