Russia: a diplomat resigns, overwhelmed by “shame”



Eis this the beginning of a flight of Russian diplomats? As noted International mail, Boris Bondarev resigned from his post as diplomatic adviser to Russia based in Geneva (Switzerland) within the UN on Monday 23 May. His decision is all the more striking as he has held positions in the Russian Foreign Ministry headed by the powerful Sergei Lavrov for two decades.

On social networks, he justified his resignation by a feeling of shame vis-à-vis his “country” following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “I have witnessed many reversals of our foreign policy during my career, but never have I been so ashamed for my country,” he posted on his LinkedIn page, a network yet banned by the government. Russian power. At the same time, he explained that he had “clarified [s]on point of view” also on Facebook. The American social network is also banned on Russian soil. According to information given by the man to the media, he had worked for the Russian diplomatic mission to the UN in the Swiss city of Geneva since 2019.

Going against the current of the Kremlin line which limits itself to evoking a “special operation”, Boris Bondarev does not hesitate to speak of “war”. According to him, the conflict initiated on February 24 by Vladimir Putin is now being waged “against the entire Western world”. And this, while European capitals have implemented several series of economic sanctions targeting the Russian regime.

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A resignation sent the same morning

Moreover, the former Russian diplomat speaks of a “crime against the Ukrainian people”, and goes even further. “This is not only a crime against the Ukrainian people, but also, perhaps, the most serious crime against the Russian people,” he explains according to quotes from the Russian newspaper. Kommersant. According to an Associated Press recording, he explains that he submitted his resignation the very morning of these publications on social networks. And this, without having informed his closest collaborators.

This public release is a first. If the Russian media claims to have a list “of several other diplomats [ayant] resigned from the Russian Foreign Ministry” after February 24, Boris Bondarev’s colleagues never spoke openly. The diplomat explains that he has no idea about his future. Even if, after such remarks, a return to his country seems very unlikely. Indeed, since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has muzzled all possible disputes by prohibiting, in particular, the use of the word “war”.

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On this point, as on the existence of war crimes committed by Russian troops, Moscow denies any “treachery”. “Traitors among diplomats could not be found although such attempts were made from abroad and inside the country,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a recent speech. against his administration. For now, it is difficult to precisely quantify the number of Russian diplomats who have chosen to flee and abandon their posts.




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