Anti-War Committee of Russia

The Anti-War Committee of Russia (Russian: Антивоенный комитет России) is an organization founded by a group of exiled Russian public figures for the purpose of opposing Vladimir Putin's regime and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Through its Ark project, the committee helps coordinate resources for emigrants leaving Russia as a result of the war.

Anti-War Committee of Russia
Антивоенный комитет России
AbbreviationAWCR (English)
АKР (Russian)
Founders
FoundedFebruary 27, 2022 (2022-02-27)
HeadquartersVilnius, Lithuania
IdeologyAnti-Putinism
Anti-war
Political positionBig tent
National affiliationFree Russia Forum
Colours   Flag of Ukraine
SloganNo to war!
Party flag
Website
Official website (in Russian, English, Spanish, and French)

Founding

The Anti-War Committee was established on February 27, 2022, by a group of exiled Russian public figures.[1][2][3] Its goal was declared to be the fight against the rule of Vladimir Putin, which it says is responsible for the war in Ukraine, and which the committee describes as a "dictatorship." The Moscow Times noted the significance of the committee's coordinated effort as a departure from the infighting more typical among opposition parties in Russia.[4] Prominent committee members include CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky of Yukos, former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov, economists Sergei Aleksashenko and Sergei Guriev, historian Vladimir Kara-Murza, Russian Academy of Sciences member Yuri Pivovarov, politician Dmitry Gudkov, entrepreneurs Boris Zimin and Evgeny Chichvarkin, writer Viktor Shenderovich and journalist Yevgeny Kiselyov.[5][6] The organization uses the white-blue-white flag and a peace sign in the colors of the Ukrainian flag as symbols on its website.[7]

Goals

The committee called on the governments of all countries to "take a firm stand against those who violate international law." In addition, it calls on "true Russian patriots" to "consolidate themselves in the fight against the aggressive dictatorship of Vladimir Putin - regardless of any political differences, ideological divergences and personal sympathies and antipathies."[8][9]

Initiatives and activities

The committee has issued appeals to general audiences such as Western countries as well as to specific groups such as the members of United Russia, the largest political party in Russia.[7] On March 4, the committee published a direct appeal to Russians two days ahead of planned protests in Moscow.[10] The group has also appealed directly to Sergey Brin, a member of the Alphabet Inc. Board of Directors.[7]

The Anti-War Committee operates the Ark project as a support resource for Russians who have chosen to emigrate as a result of the war. Through this project, the committee is able to help Russian emigrants find housing and set up bank accounts among other forms of assistance. It is coordinated in part with volunteers located in Yerevan and Istanbul but is able to offer legal assistance in other locations as well.[11][12][13][2][3] The committee says that monetary donations collected as part of its Sunrise initiative will help supply humanitarian aid in the form of food, medicine, clothing, and hygiene items for people living in Ukraine during the war.[14]

References
  1. RFE/RL's Russian Service (2022-02-28). "Group Of Exiled Russian Public Figures Creates Anti-War Committee". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  2. "Проект "Ковчег": "Антивоенный комитет" запустил программу по поддержке политических беженцев из России" [Project "Ark": "Anti-war committee" launched a program to support political refugees from Russia] (in Russian). Channel 9 (Israel). 2022-03-10. Archived from the original on 2022-03-13. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  3. Silver, Olga (2022-03-11). "11 марта. Отчаянно нужен ковчег" [March 11th. Desperately need an ark]. Seven Forty (in Russian). Current Time TV. Archived from the original on 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  4. "Russian Opposition Figures Form Anti-War Committee from Exile". The Moscow Times. 2022-03-23. Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  5. Евгений Антонов (2022-02-28). "Оппозиционеры создали "Антивоенный комитет России"" [The opposition created the "Anti-War Committee of Russia"] (in Russian). Бумага. Archived from the original on 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  6. "Statement Of The Anti-War Committee Of Russia". Khodorkovsky.com. 2022-02-28. Archived from the original on 2022-03-19. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
  7. "Russian Anti-War Committee". Retrieved 2022-03-25.
  8. "Ученые и бизнесмены создали Антивоенный комитет России для борьбы с "агрессивной диктатурой" Путина" [Scientists and businessmen set up Russia's Anti-War Committee to fight Putin's 'aggressive dictatorship'] (in Russian). The Insider. 2022-02-27. Archived from the original on 2022-02-27. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  9. "Ходорковский, Каспаров и Гуриев создали Антивоенный комитет России" [Khodorkovsky, Kasparov and Guriev created the Anti-War Committee of Russia] (in Russian). Meduza. Archived from the original on 2022-02-28. Retrieved 2022-02-28.
  10. Данила Гальперович (2022-03-06). "Михаил Ходорковский: выходить на протест очень опасно, но надо – идет война" [Mikhail Khodorkovsky: it is very dangerous to go out to protest, but it is necessary - there is a war] (in Russian). Voice of America. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
  11. RFE/RL's Russian Service (2022-03-10). "Антивоенный комитет запустил проект по поддержке эмигрантов из России" [The Anti-War Committee launched a project to support emigrants from Russia] (in Russian). Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Archived from the original on 2022-03-22. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  12. "Антивоенный комитет России запустил программу помощи российским эмигрантам" [Anti-war Committee of Russia launched a program to help Russian emigrants] (in Russian). Meduza. 2022-03-10. Archived from the original on 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  13. "Антивоенный комитет России будет помогать россиянам, уехавшим из РФ из-за войны с Украиной" [The Russian Anti-War Committee will help Russians who left the Russian Federation because of the war with Ukraine] (in Russian). Polskie Radio 24. 2022-03-11. Archived from the original on 2022-03-25. Retrieved 2022-03-19.
  14. "Sunrise - Russian Anti-War Committee". Retrieved 2022-03-26.

General references
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