Tomás Ó Flatharta

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was the first leader of the Bolshevik Russian Soviet Federation created by the 1917 October Revolution. A different Vladimir, the billionaire oligarch gangster Putin, is determined to wipe Ukraine off the map and ”show what real decommunisation means for Ukraine”. Anti-War movements across the globe need to support the demand “Russian Troops Our of Ukraine Now” while also opposing the eastern expansion across the European continent of the USA’s NATO war-machine.

Key Extracts from Vladimir Putin’s Speech Denouncing “Vladimir Ilyich Lenin’s Ukraine”

“Modern Ukraine was entirely created by Russia, more precisely, Bolshevik, communist Russia. This process began immediately after the revolution of 1917…

“As a result of Bolshevik policy, Soviet Ukraine arose, which even today can with good reason be called ‘Vladimir Ilyich Lenin’s Ukraine’. He is its author and architect. This is fully confirmed by archive documents … And now grateful descendants have demolished monuments to Lenin in Ukraine. This is what they call decommunisation. Do you want decommunisation? Well, that suits us just fine. But it is unnecessary, as they say, to stop halfway. We are ready to show you what real decommunisation means for Ukraine.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/extracts-putins-speech-ukraine-2022-02-21/

Statement of ‘Sotsialnyi Ruh’: Recognition of LDPR by Russia is criminal play of Russian Imperialism

Source : https://ukrainesolidaritycampaign.org/2022/02/22/russias-crime-of-imperialism/

Anti-War Movements across the globe need to engage with the fighting anti-imperialist left in Ukraine and Russia.

Russia’s recognition of the LDPR [Luhans and Donestk Peoples Republics] is a crime of imperialism against peace. The Social Movement considers the legitimacy of the self-proclaimed republics in Ukraine to be an open disregard for the principle of inviolability of territorial integrity. The justification for this step is striking in its absurdity: Putin spoke from the position of a person that wants to correct the “mistakes” of Vladimir Lenin, who recognized the right of nations to self-determination. Russia is unpredictable, as its leadership has made it clear that it is guided not by the rule of law but by imperialist ambitions.

Only a socialist and democratic Ukraine can resist the oligarchic authoritarianism of the Russian Federation. Preserving the independence of our country depends on abandoning the model of oligarchic capitalism. These include the nationalization of the financial system and strategic enterprises, the confiscation of luxuries, and a ban on capital outflows. Without these measures, the burden of military spending will fall on the poor labor majority of Ukraine. Democratization and the unification of society require the rejection of scandalous decommunization laws.

Global solidarity is the path to peace in Ukraine. Overcoming the crisis situation is primarily dependent on getting rid of the mistrust that exists between people, who are separated by a border or front line. We reached out to the progressive movements in the West for them to ask for relief of Ukraine’s foreign debt. We wish the Russian left success in the struggle for the demilitarization of Russia. We call on the people of the self-proclaimed republics to fight together with the rest of Ukraine for socialism and freedom. Let’s show that the world is united in the pursuit of peace and a decent life!

Paul Murphy TD, PBP, Dublin South-West, warns :

The world is hurtling towards war – we need to shout stop.

If there is a war, it won’t be Putin and Biden who suffer, it will be ordinary workers and young people in Ukraine. While war may be very good for these politicians’ approval ratings, it would be a disaster for ordinary people.

We need a global out pouring of opposition to this push for war. We need protests in Dublin, Washington, Moscow, Kyiv and beyond. Join the Irish Anti-War Movement outside the Dáil this Thursday, 24 February at 5.30pm.