Hello everyone!

I created account in 2022. Earlier, I edited articles as not registered user.

I don't know whether or not anyone will ever read this text, but I find it necessary to place this text here. This is necessary to sort myself out and put my thoughts, aching me since the beginning of Russian invasion of Ukraine, in order.

First thing, so as not beat around the bush, I would like to state that this war is a war of conquest, Russia is an aggressor, Vladimir Putin is a war criminal. It is just facts, which, I hope, will be confirmed by international tribunal.

When the war began, the population of Russia had become divided between those who supported this war, those who did not even care, and those who opposed to the war. I'll speak about first two categories later, so now's about the last one (so-called sensible people).

When the war began, some sensible Russian people had stated that they were ashamed to be a Russians. Others had stated that they were not responsible for Putin's actions, because he was always a usurper and they were always against him. I think the both sides are wrong. On the one side, it is foolish to be ashamed of your nationality, just as to be proud of it, because the origin of a person does not depend on his will. Only your actions can be a sources of your pride or shame. On the other side, unlike the legal responsibility that may be personal only, moral responsibility may be both personal and collective. Personal responsibility is a responsibility for own acts that constitute the objective aspect of a crime. Collective responsibility is incurred when a persons have not done all measures within their power to avoid the situation in which the crime is committed on behalf of society of which these persons are a part.

Just some examples. Anna Politkovskaya and Boris Nemtsov are not responsible for this war, because they resisted Putin's regime, fought for Russian civil society, and, as a result, gave their lives. Alexei Navalny is alive but he survived an assassination attempt, was imprisoned and is still fighting Putin's regime, so he is not responsible for this war. Yuri Nesterenko is not responsible for this war too, because he distanced himself from Russian society in advance, stating in 2010 that Russia was always absolute and pure evil growing out of mentality of Russians, and he had for ever left Russia and was granted asylum in USA.

Quite simply, if you want to avoid the collective responsibility you should stake your life on the line fighting for your society and become a hero or sever all ties with your society in advance and become an outcast.

As for me personally, I have not severed all ties with Russian society and I'm alive and even not jailed. Therefore, I share collective responsibility for all what is going on now.

My beliefs have evolved, and there are some things seemed right earlier but not seem right now. I was constant in one thing – in categorical opposition to Putin's regime. I always believed that the expression of discontent is not enough, because words don't change the world. I carried out actions using all tools available to me. I was a lawyer (even good, in opinion of some people) and tried to uphold the law, rights and freedoms, not just as a representative of a party to the proceedings – for money, but also on my own behalf – for an idea. Fight for an idea has brought nothing but problems; however, I knew what I was about. I wasn't naive man, I saw dictatorship, a priori incompatible with justice, was being established in Russia, but at that time I felt obliged to use all available legal arrangements. However, in 2020, after the amendments to the Russian Constitution was approved, I realized that I finally had enough. The country where the law was replaced by schizophrenic delusion of psychotic führer, really doesn't need lawyers, and, under these circumstances, I considered it shameful to continue to pretend that well-written legal document has any meaning. I saw that elections, mass protests, petitions, legal proceedings didn't work. I saw that attempts to change the situation through a violence against government structures (see this) did not work too, because it didn't resonate with society. I don't know what I should do now to change the situation. Anyway I realize that all things what I did earlier were inefficient - I haven't prevented the transformation my country into fascist dictatorship. And so, again, I share collective responsibility for all what is going on now.

And now, back to first two categories of Russians. Those who support this war and Putin’s policy in general are typical great-power chauvinists. These evil and aggressive people are responsible for Putin's actions, both in moral and legal aspects. Those who are remained aloof from this war and politics in general are not evil but unprincipled and emotionally bereft opportunists. They consider blindly following imposed patterns of behaviour a virtue and are ready to go to a slaughter obediently. Unfortunately, there are too much of that kind of people in the post-totalitarian society.

Imperialist revanchism of Russians brought Vladimir Putin to power, their obedience let him become a terrible dragon. Sensible Russians were unable or unwilling to prevent that, and they will share collective responsibility with other Russians.

I doubt that Ukrainians needs words of encouragement from citizen of the state launched a perfidious attack on their country, but anyway I want them to survive the fight. And I wish rest of civilized world to be more farsighted and to not trade away the fundamental values and principles for material assets and illusion of safety. Those who refused the freedom lose everything in the end; I know that very well.

Take care!


Update: I had to leave Russia. I've relocated to a safe European country and obtained a residence permit.

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