The Crimean people do not want to live under Ukrainian rule. That was clear from the referenda in 1991, 1994 and 2014. Don't pretend that Kiev can turn the clock back and resubjugate Crimea. It won't work.
It is not Russia who wanted to be an enemy of NATO. It is NATO that needed an enemy for its raison d'être and unilaterally assigned this role to Russia.
Stoltenberg should accept that NATO made a mistake by expanding to the very frontiers of Russia, and that such expansion constituted a threat to international peace and security within the meaning of article 39 of the UN Charter.
Ukraine is not innocent. Ukraine's systematic violation of the 2014 and 2015 Minsk agreements and the continued shelling of population centers in Lugansk, Slavyansk and Donetsk led directly to Russia's invasion of 24 February.
Puigdemont was the 130th President of the Generalitá of Catalonia and was elected democratically by the people of Catalonia with a mandate to conduct a referendum, which he did. That should be praised by all democratically-minded EU parliamentarians.
There is no advantage for Germany or for Europe to become dependent on the US for its energy. Whereas Putin did NOT use his leverage and did NOT blackmail the Europeans, the US has done it for decades.
Sweden and Finland's bid to join NATO won't bring peace to Ukraine. Wonder whether they realize that NATO's record of war crimes in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Syria qualifies it for "criminal organization" status under article 9 of the statute of the Nuremberg Tribunal.
The terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge is a dangerous escalation of the conflict and should be condemned by the international community as a war crime.
The mainstream media tells us that Russia frustrates the UN Security Council by abusing the veto power. However, yesterday, the US, UK and France rejected Russia’s legitimate call for an international investigation into US biolabs in Ukraine.
It is not always the guy who fires the first shot who is 100% guilty for an armed conflict - it is also the party -- or parties -- who spend years provoking and refuse to stop the provocations.
The German left-wing politician Sarah Wagenknecht has been saying what Olaf Scholz does not dare say, that the Ukraine war was preventable and that NATO was the agent provocateur.
Putin has been proposing solutions compatible with the UN Charter since 2014, especially considering the "threat" of the use of force by NATO. The rejection of Russia's December 2021 proposals was a major strategic error by the US and NATO.
If Elon Musk really meant it with de-escalation, he would not have donated 25,000 Starlink satellite internet terminals to Ukraine. He is complicit in the prolongation of the war.
If I were the Belgian judge, I would reject the Spanish request for extradition as frivolous and vexatious abuse of process, and a violation of Art. 2 of the Treaty of Lisbon
#Spain
#FreeCatalanPoliticalPrisoners
How can the US accuse Russia of imperialism? There has been no country in history that has toppled as many foreign governments as the US. Just read Prof. Kinzer's Overthrow.
The US blowing up of Nord Stream entailed numerous violations of international law and UN Charter, constituting an act of war against Germany and Russia, and the crime of ecocide. No one can bring the US before the ICC.
The decision of the UK Home Secretary to extradite Assange to the US merely confirms what everyone knows, the breakdown of the rule of law in the UK and the subservicence of the judiciary to the executive.
The breakdown of the rule of law in Spain and the despotic dismissal of the democratically elected 131st President of the Generalitat de Catalunya by Madrid-- violates article 2 of the Treaty of Lisbon.
As the US would not tolerate Mexico joining a Chinese military-alliance, Russia will not tolerate Ukraine or Georgia joining NATO. This is common sense. Everything else is political "narrative" and/or propaganda for war.
If the US were a functioning democracy, US citizens would be asked whether they want billions of dollars to be given to Ukraine for war, or whether they would prefer promoting mediation with a view to a cease fire and sustainable peace.
Ukrainian Presidents Poroshenko and Zelinsky systematically undermined and violated the Minsk agreements for a period of 8 years. Their recent military actions against Lugansk and Donetsk could not have been left unanswered.
Musk's proposal also repeats the necessity that Ukraine give up its totally unjustified claim to Crimea. I was there 1994 as UN election monitor. The vast majority of the population in Crimea is Russian and feels Russian.
Blaming Russia for global hunger is absurd, when any economist will tell you that the collapse of globalization and supply chains is attributable to the US UK and EU sanctions policies.
There is no way Belgium could extradite Puigdemont to Spain. All of Puigdemont's actions are purely political and non-violent.
#Spain
#FreeCatalanPoliticalPrisoners
The EU's failure to sanction Spain because of the persecution of political leaders like Puigdemont and the jailing of democratically elected Catalonian politicians reveals a high level of hypocrisy that destroys the reputation and credibility of the EU.
NATO was never "Mr. nice guy" and since the dismantlement of the Warsaw Pact has NEVER acted as a "defensive" alliance. It is an expansive power that wants to deploy its neo-colonial influence and bully others in the region.
The international law arguments in favour of Assange are compelling. The defense lawyers did a fine job. The UK courts, however, are in the service of the hegemon, not justice.
The Catalans are a "people" with their own language, culture, history and identity. They -- like every people -- have the right to determine their own future
#Catalonia
The mainstream press seems to have forgotten (has deliberately buried) the scandalous and on-going situation that there are political prisoners in Europe -- namely in Spain, where the rule of law and respect for human rights has broken down on the Catalan issues
#Catalonia
Time for the Catalans to emancipate from the Kingdom of Spain, time for the Corsicans to emancipate from France, time for the Kurds to emancipate from Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.
The right of self-determination of peoples is jus cogens and part of the Spanish legal order pursuant to articles 10(2) and 96 of the Spanish Constitution.
#Catalonia
#Madrid
#Barcelona
#Spain
is at war with the rule of law -- and with respect for Art. 1 of the UN Charter and Art. 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
#Catalonia
Had NATO negotiated in good faith with Russia about Russia's legitimate security concerns, Putin's recognition of the Donbas Republics would not have occurred.
Today a masquerade of a trial started in Madrid. Twelve democratically elected Catalan politicians are accused of the "crime" of speaking out for the right of the Catalan people to decide their own future
#Catalonia
The Global majority wants peace in Ukraine and in the rest of the world. It is the NATO military machine that wants more wars, more interventions, more military bases, more coups d'état.
Merkel emphasized that “even in the Cold War, Russia was a reliable energy supplier.” True enough, Putin did NOT close the flow on the Europeans, in spite of the vulgar incitement to hatred that the US and EU have been practicing.
The death of every soldier – Ukrainian, Russian, mercenary – is a tragedy. Each one had a right to live and has been sacrificed by the ideologues and politicians.
What the European Parliament should do is to condemn the Spanish Tribunal Supremo for a series of rulings that undermine the rule of law in Spain and violate article 2 of the Treaty of Lisbon.
The director of Amnessty International just resigned after media mobbing following AI's report on Ukraine. Proof that even AI cannot contradict the mainstream narrative.
All the world must have compassion for the victims of the Russian missile strikes in Kiev, but similarly all the world must have compassion for the victims of Ukrainian shelling of Donetsk and Lugansk. War is madness.
The refusal of Sweden to involve Germany and Russia in the investigations into the terrorist attack on the Nordstream pipelines augurs badly for Europe and for the credibility of the investigation. Will there be yet another cover-up?
The terrorist attack on a civilian infrastructure necessary for the population living in Crimea constitutes a war crime and the ICC should start an investigation with a view to indict the culprits under articles 7 and 8 of the Statute or Rome.
It is not certain that the Donbas republics had a right to "remedial secession" in 2014 after the Maidan coup. But after 8 years of shelling by Ukrainian forces and more than 15,000 victims, they do have that right today.
Ernesto "Che" Gevara was murdered by the CIA on 9 October 1967, 55 years ago. He fought for the self-determination of the Cuban and Bolivian peoples. As a high school student in Chicago I was taught that Che was a gangster.
It is a grave violation of article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to arrest elected officials for expressing their views on self-determination
#Catalonia
Zelinsky's statement that he will conquer Crimea is not only unrealistic -- it is contrary to the right of the Crimean people to determine their own future.
Who knows that the people of Crimea held referendums in 1991, 1994 and 2014 voicing their preference for autonomy or independence -- at nearly 90%. Noone in the West wants them to be what they are -- Russians.
There is nothing more shocking and more flagrantly in violation of Article 2 of the Treaty of Lisbon than the persecution of Catalan politicians by Madrid's government.
Donald Tusk is selective. Why does he ask
#Russia
to release all "political prisoners" but does not say a word about the political prisoners in
#Spain
?
#Catalonia
I endorse the Belgian court's decision NOT to enforce the European arrest warrant issued by Spain against former Catalan Minister Lluis Puig. Amazing how Spain pretends to prosecute a Culture Minister for trying to implement article 1 of ICCPR
What is holding Europe from lifting the sanctions? A curious death-wish. An illogical, absurd rejection of the obvious fact that NATO provoked the war in Ukraine and that if NATO had not persisted on provoking Russia, there would be no war today.
NATO’s demand that Crimea, Lugansk and Donetsk be forced under Ukrainian sovereignty is a non-starter because it blithely ignores the wishes for the people of Crimea, Lugansk and Donetsk.
The self-mutilation of the Europeans and the their toleration of a US terror attack on Nordstream demonstrates how much the Europeans have lost sovereignty and abandoned democracy for their citizens.
"The bird has been freed", said Musk, but then the EU totalitarian commissioner Breton tweeted "In Europe the bird will fly by our rules" -- meaning continued EU manipulation of public opinion and suppression of dissent.
As an American I protest against the US, NATO, the Ukraine and Poland putting the fate of the entire world at risk of nuclear war. Forget about "victory". What we urgently need is modesty, an imperfect deal, a compromise, a quid pro quo.
The idea of Pedro Sanchez to criminalize the holding of a referendum is yet another example of flouting articles 19 and 25 ICCPR and article 2 Treaty of Lisbon
#Spain
#Catalonia
#freecatalanpoliticalprisoners
Notwithstanding NATO’s claim to be a "defensive organization", the bloc has militarily intervened in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, where no "defense" argument could be made. NATO illegally usurps the functions of the United Nations.
US sanctions have killed tens of thousands of people throughout the world. We should finally understand that sanctions kill just as bullets do -- and that there is civil and criminal responsibility.
The world will be a happier and more peaceful place with 250 States that respect each other mutually. Let us welcome the Catalans, Scots, Corsicans, Kurds, Tamils, Sahraouis, West Papuans, Ryukyuans, Rapa Nuis, Mapuches into the community of nations.