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Reuters
Limassol — Russian anti-war activists in Cyprus to continue protests against Ukrainian aggression despite being targeted by threats after their faces appeared on billboard sites covered in black ribbons
A photo of nine activists appeared in late July on the coast of Limassol, popular with both Russians and Ukrainians and where anti-war demonstrators regularly gather.
All nine have taken part in regular protests in the city, drawing crowds of dozens to hundreds. Each of their pictures had a ribbon attached to it and was attached to a billboard fence like a collage, and he was placed on a shelf with three red candles.
"It's a memorial to the people. In Russia, such threats are very common," said one of the thousands of Russians living in Cyprus. person, Evgenii Elesin, 38, is pictured.
The Russian embassy in Nicosia did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Reuters.
Eresin said in 2020 that Russian authorities were accused by prominent Kremlin critic Alexei of poisoning Navalny, leading Vladimir to regularly participate in protests against President Putin. Told. He was sentenced to prison for parole violations, fraud and contempt of court. He says the accusations against him are all hoaxes.
"A friend from the Russian community sent me the photo," said another protester, Christina Fink, 38.
Cyprus police, who confiscated the collage, said they were looking for the perpetrators in connection with a data protection breach investigation.
Another activist, Natalia Boyko, 42, said she would continue to organize and participate in protests.
"I feel so sorry for what my country is doing to my other family members, the Ukrainian people...For me, brother killing brother is the most disgraceful thing." War," she told Reuters.
Elesin said activists see Russia as an aggressor. Putin should stop. These threats cannot stop us.
Inside Russia, anti-war protests were greatly curtailed by the crackdown by the authorities.
Russia has stated that the purpose of the "special military operation" in Ukraine is to demilitarize the neighboring country and protect the Russian-speaking community. Kyiv and its Western allies accuse Moscow of waging an imperial-style war of conquest. (Reporting by Marinos Meletiu; Writing by Michele Campas; Editing by John Stonestreet)
