Sir, – Arthur Velker asserts that “for those living in Russia, the borders have been effectively closed” (“Treating all Russians like criminals only helps Putin”, Opinion & Analysis, November 17th).
I’ve recently returned from a beach holiday in Oludeniz in Turkey.
Perhaps Mr Velker could explain from where all the Russians on the sun loungers and in Dalaman airport and even driving their 4x4s with Russian number plates around town got there, if their borders are closed?
The fact is that Turkey and Israel remained fully open to flights from Russia throughout the summer season.
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Clearly not all ordinary Russians support Vladimir Putin, but let’s not pretend they are all at home protesting in the streets. – Yours, etc,
KENNETH HARPER,
Burtonport,
Co Donegal.
Sir, – Arthur Velker argues that sanctions against Russia were treating all Russians like criminals.
This opinion was based on Mr Velker receiving a letter from his Irish bank asking him to provide proof of a valid EU residency despite, as he said himself, living, working and paying taxes in Ireland for years. I can understand his ire at the bank and my own inclination would have been to follow up with them and understand why this happened. His inclination seems to have been to write an article criticising Westerners for making all Russians complicit in the destruction of Ukraine. I think this is too far a leap to make.
I think the West can distinguish between the state of Russia and the people of Russia but they do not see a real conflict between the two. We can easily see Putin and his state apparatus as criminal warmongers but we do not necessarily attach this identity onto the Russian people. We do wonder why they have, to a great extent, and there have been notable exceptions, accepted the state rhetoric and communication on the “special operation”.
We understand that any disagreement is likely to be severely punished and that it is unwise and unsafe to protest against the regime. Yet we see the people of Iran risking life and limb in this context, and we may draw a parallel with the lack of any consistent “uprising” in Russia.
It is a complex matter and we can understand the dilemma faced by the Russian people, and, as such, are more likely to see them as victims of a repressive state, rather than criminals cheering on the sidelines.
Mr Velker reports that there are “endless street protests, online petitions and rebuttals of the Kremlin’s slanted rhetoric” that are taking place in Russia, and I think it would have made for a better article if he was able to amplify the current protests going on in Russia, and seek our support for these. In a sense, I think this is his real message. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL RYAN,
Dublin 3.
Sir, – Can you advise me (and perhaps other like-minded citizens) how I might be added to the list of those being sanctioned and banned by Putin and his cronies? I’m just back from delivering a van-load of aid to the Cherkasy region and would consider it a badge of honour. – Yours, etc,
JULIAN HILLS,
Stillorgan,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – May I remind those baying for the expulsion of the Russian ambassador that Ireland is constitutionally neutral and should not be backing an expansion of Nato. Ireland must lobby for diplomacy, not longer war. Diplomacy requires diplomats, not inconsistent moral outrage. – Yours, etc,
GARETH SMYTH
Louisburgh,
Mayo.
A chara, – News of Russia sanctioning 52 Irish officials should be greeted as one of the few honours the Putin regime is capable of bestowing. Those wringing their hands over our supposed neutrality should consult the distinction between neutrality and moral abdication. – Yours, etc,
CONOR MacNAMARA,
London.
Sir, – I have no doubt that the Taoiseach and his Ministers are gutted at not being able to visit Moscow for pre-Christmas shopping this year. Maybe we should stop beating around the bush and finally reciprocate with a ban on Ambassador Yury Filatov and his team, not to mention Vladimir Putin. – Yours, etc,
NEIL BLACKBURN,
Dublin 6.